Over 80 CCTV cameras have been installed at Manchester Victoria railway station to provide better security and safety for customers using the station.
Train operator Northern has installed a total of 86 cameras to improve CCTV coverage at the station, including the entrance, concourse, two footbridges and platforms 1 to 6.
These are part of an investment programme that Northern announced last year to install over 600 new CCTV cameras at its stations.
The number of dangerous attacks recorded on its trains last year fell by almost 90% from the previous year, with 69 recorded incidents in 2022 and eight in 2023.
These figures include trains being struck by objects thrown from bridges, railway embankments, and stations or trains colliding with substantial items that have been placed deliberately on the track.
Further security measures being implemented by Northern are 7,000 HD CCTV cameras fitted to its fleet of trains and a £1.7m investment in the roll-out of over 1,000 extra body-worn camera kits to colleagues across its network.
Northern now has 1,300 body-worn camera kits in daily use, which British Transport Police can access the footage for use in criminal prosecutions.
A Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) was recently secured against a man from the North East through the use of body-worn camera footage.
The man was banned from travelling on all Northern services for 18 months after committing a series of offences over two years, including repeated fare evasion, verbal threats of a racist nature and threats of physical violence towards members of the train crew, and damaging train carriages.
If anyone witnesses anti-social behaviour or other criminal activity on the railway, they are asked to contact British Transport Police by text at 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.
Alternatively, crimes can be reported via the British Transport Police ‘Railway Guardian' app which allows users to report crimes or concerns on the rail network, share journeys with trusted contacts, and get access to news, guides and support.
Craig Harrop, regional director at Northern, said: “We already have thousands of cameras at stations across our network and on-board our trains but we are adding more with this £750,000 investment to ensure customers and colleagues always feel safe.
“While CCTV often discourages criminal and anti-social behaviour, if offenders are caught on camera, police can also use the footage to bring them to justice.”
