Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have reached a major milestone, with the TravelSafe LiveChat service recording its 1,000th report since launching in October 2025.
The jointly managed service connects passengers across the Bee Network directly to trained GMP call handlers, enabling them to report anti-social behaviour, suspicious activity, welfare concerns and crime discreetly and in real time.
Each LiveChat represents a moment where officers have been able to respond quickly, provide reassurance, and in many cases, prevent situations from escalating, when a passenger has felt unsafe or uncertain.
Since its launch on 16 October 2025, TravelSafe LiveChat has seen a significant increase in usage. Previously, using the TfGM-only LiveChat service, it took 16 months to record 1,000 LiveChat interactions. With the introduction of the joint GMP and TfGM service, the same number of reports has been reached in just over six months.
Usage continues to grow as more and more people find out about the service and are now using it confidently.
TravelSafe LiveChat is the first step towards further integration between GMP and TfGM as part of a new approach to policing the transport network and reassuring the travelling public.
Among its recent successes Reports were received of drunk males on the way to the airport who were shouting, acting in an intimidating manner and making comments that left passengers feeling unsafe. The group, consisting of three males, also had large dog with them that was not on a lead. Patrols attended and removed the males from the bus.
A concern for welfare was raised regarding a male in his 30s who was lying on the floor next to a bus stop and appeared heavily intoxicated. Our trained call handlers applied the “Right Care, Right Person” approach and directed the matter to the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).
There was a report of a male on the tram who was shouting at and harassing female passengers. He was slurring his words, had fallen over some seats, and was drinking from a bottle of vodka. After shouting at two females who had moved seats, he followed them and sat between them on a two-seater. The tram was held at Monsall where patrols attended. The male resisted arrest and was subsequently detained for being drunk and disorderly.
Neil Smitham, Call Handling Supervisor at GMP, said: “Reaching 1,000 TravelSafe LiveChats since launch highlights just how important this tool is in helping us create a safer environment on public transport.
“We want everyone using the Bee Network to feel as safe as possible and LiveChat is a vital part of that.
“This milestone also shows growing public confidence in our ability to respond and support people when they need us most. No matter how big or small an issue may seem, we are here to help.”
