In light of recent reporting about decreasing perceptions of safety on public transport in the UK, Amulet Security Managing Director, Kieran Mackie, discusses the impact that the introduction of TSEOs has had on night buses in Manchester.
For many, buses are a reliable daytime form of public transport that lets them get from A to B – whether that be to the office, school, or anywhere else. However, nighttime commuters can be met with rowdier crowds, leaving pubs, clubs and other events.
Nighttime travel makes possible threats loom larger – it’s harder to see, and rural destinations are often less well-lit. One recent survey uncovered that most respondents felt safe commuting by bus during the day, but only 41% of female respondents felt safe catching the bus at night. Similarly, only 43% of elderly respondents and 35% of disabled respondents said that they felt safe on the night bus.
In Manchester, Travel for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is addressing this by enhancing the safety measures across its franchised buses, called the Bee Network. It introduced TravelSafe Enforcement Officers (TSEOs) in September 2023, and its recent expansion to night buses has brought in new TSEOs and patrol vehicles. That way, commuters have a safe presence to turn to twenty-four hours a day.
The work of TSEOs
When TfGM franchised the Manchester Bee Network, it wanted to change the perception of safety on public transport. It asked passengers what would make them feel safer, and the top answer was more staff.
The solution was to introduce TSEOs– specially trained security officers who tackle low-level nuisance and disorder, prevent abuse, deter fare evasion and target hotspot locations across public transport links.
TSEOs undergo comprehensive training, and Amulet is one of a select few companies endorsed by the Police Crime Prevention Agency to deliver training for the Community Safe Accreditation Scheme (CSAS). The accreditation gives TSEOs enhanced byelaw powers similar to the police, like traffic control, confiscation of alcohol and the right to take someone’s name and address.
TSEOs differ from traditional security roles because they must be empathetic, patient and understanding, to enable them to safeguard the public and help vulnerable people. This could include a disabled person with decreased mobility, or a woman travelling alone at night at risk of harassment. On night buses especially, this includes helping drunk and disorderly people who may be struggling to get home safely.
Safety at night
TfGM reported that 33 per cent of the Greater Mancunian workforce is employed at night, making nighttime buses an affordable and sustainable option for its nighttime economy. The pilot night-time bus expansion began in September 2024, with routes chosen due to their proximity to key employment sites, like bars, clubs, hotels, hospitals and distribution centres.
In the daytime, the expanded bus network and free travel via Northern Trains make it easy for TSEOs to get around. However, the night-time bus expansion runs less frequently late into the night, which could delay TSEOs’ response time.
The four TSEOs introduced to the pilot have two patrol cars as the solution; they give TSEOs more flexibility and better response times in hard-to-reach areas of Greater Manchester. That way, TSEOs can respond swiftly to a range of scenarios, from inner-city groups leaving pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars, to those travelling in its less dense areas.
The future of night buses in Manchester
This pilot scheme has only just begun, but TfGM and Amulet’s TSEOs are confident that these new services will let people travel safely at all times, with the reassurance that if they need it, there are people who can help them.
TSEO presence in Manchester is ramping up elsewhere. There are currently 64 TSEOs with more planned for January 2025 as the Bee Network expands to new areas of Greater Manchester. As these services develop, TfGM and Amulet will assess the success of their rollout every step of the way.