We have welcomed six new Transport Safety Officers (TSOs) in Essex.
They aim to make public transport safer in the county by:
- dealing with low-level nuisance and disorder
- tackling Violence Against Women and Girls
- targeting hotspot routes and locations on public transport
- issuing fixed penalty notices for specific anti-social behaviours
The areas they will cover are:
- Basildon
- Chelmsford
- Colchester
- Brentwood
- Tendring
- Thurrock
- Southend
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Levelling Up, Communities and Business Engagement, said:
We are pleased to launch the Transport Safety Officers initiative in Essex alongside our colleagues at Southend and Thurrock.
We know from our own engagement with residents that safety on public transport, particularly at night, and for women, has been raised as a concern and addressing this is a priority for us.
We hope that these officers will not only help prevent anti-social behaviour, but help passengers on public transport in Essex feel safer.
We warmly welcome the new recruits and wish them well in their new roles. I look forward to seeing how the pilot is received by residents.”
The officers will work closely with transport operators and law enforcement.
They will also host local events near to their local transport hubs. The events will cover a variety of issues and themes.
The initiative aligns with broader government commitments to enhance public transport services.
Read more about the Transport Safety Officers initiative.