Greater Manchester Police has created a new unit that will be dedicated to keeping the city’s trams and buses safe and free from crime, working in collaboration with Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM).

The Travelsafe Unit is made up of 16 police officers, police community support officers and security workers, who will patrol Manchester’s transport network, initially on a pilot basis for the first three years. The tram system had a dedicated policing unit until 2008, when it was disbanded as part of cost-cutting measures.

The team will attempt to tackle well-known crime hotspots and support transport workers, and will be equipped with body cameras to help them gather evidence.

Over the last three years, a number of disturbing incidents have been reported across Manchester’s transport network, including bricks being thrown at trams and seats being set on fire, as well as assaults on drivers and people throwing rocks onto the lines in attempt to derail trams.