Helping to keep Essex public transport passengers safe

Our officers are working with new transport safety officers (TSOs) to help keep our county’s bus and train passengers safe.

Six TSOs have been specially trained to deal with anti-social behaviour and promote passenger safety on parts of the public transport network across Greater Essex.

As part of a pilot scheme running until March 2025, they will patrol targeted public transport routes and locations on the c2c and Greater Anglia rail networks which have been identified as antisocial behaviour hotspots.

The TSOs will patrol rail routes serving the Basildon, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend, Tendring and Thurrock districts, plus Basildon, Chelmsford, Clacton and Colchester rail stations

Two bus stations, in Basildon and Chelmsford, serving the Ensign bus network, will also see visits from the TSOs

Jeff Appleby, our Community Safety Accreditation Scheme development officer, says:

“Most people travelling on public transport in Essex experience no personal safety issues but we do know that some passengers, particularly women and girls, can feel less comfortable travelling through certain places or at certain times of day.
“We work with our partners, including British Transport Police, to help keep our bus and train networks safe by addressing key issues such as anti-social behaviour, abuse and violence and the transport safety officers are a valuable addition to this capability.
“While the TSOs’ primary focus will be on engagement and education to help create a safer travel environment, they will also have the authority to issue fixed penalty notices, under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, in response to certain anti-social behaviour incidents.
“If you do have concerns about anything you see on our transport network, you can report them directly to a TSO or a police officer.
“You can also report non-emergency crime to us online at www.essex.police.uk/ro or, if you are in the grounds of a rail station, text British Transport Police on 61016.
“But, if it is an emergency or a crime in progress, always ring 999.”

The pilot scheme, developed in collaboration with Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council, has received £490,000 Department for Transport (DfT) funding. 

How to report concerns

If you have concerns about any criminal activity or anti-social behaviour, you can report them online where you can also speak to an online Live Chat operator. Alternatively, you can ring 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or by calling 0800 555 111.

If you have concerns about suspicious activity in the grounds of a rail station, you can text British Transport Police (BTP) on 61016.

Always ring 999 if it is an emergency or a crime in progress.

Community Safety Accreditation Scheme

The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and its fellow Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme (RSAS) create a framework for public and private bodies to work in partnership with the police, providing an additional uniformed presence in communities, and on the rail network, to assist in reducing criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

To achieve accreditation an individual must be vetted and approved by the police force in the area they work in, and successfully complete the required training.

Find out more about the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme and how your organisation can apply to join.