Prioritising passenger safety and wellbeing across the network through the Travel Safe initiative is key to the ongoing collaboration.
We will continue to support Avanti West Coast’s safeguarding strategy through the deployment of specially accredited Safer Travel Officers, who work with multiple charities to understand issues faced by vulnerable people.
We will also introduce a new role, Safer Response Officer, who will lead the assault reduction plan. This initiative will focus on a proactive approach to security and provide support for customers and colleagues who face workplace violence, as well as provide an extra layer of security safeguarding. Awareness enhancement will be rolled out among stakeholders and customers through safety awareness events at stations, briefings, and training initiatives.
Avanti West Coast has been working with us since 2022 after recognising our expertise in rail security and safety. Since then, we have helped to transform the safeguarding team from a static security presence to a mobile unit operating across trains and stations. The updated Travel Safe strategy will be delivered by 37 team members, including two supervisors and a contract manager. It also brings a technology overhaul, with upgraded phones, equipment, and uniforms.
The partnership’s success to date is demonstrated by industry recognition. Earlier this year, our Amulet officers Marie Jones and Jenny McArthur were highly commended for the Unsung Hero award at the Railway Children’s Safeguarding Champions event. They were awarded for supporting a vulnerable young person who was identified as being potentially at risk while travelling on the network. They also won an internal Amulet award for the same reason.
Within the ongoing collaboration, we will continue to work closely with Avanti West Coast colleagues who plan for large events such as football matches, concerts and festivals, using the strategic deployment of Safer Travel Officers to help manage large crowds. Our officers will also conduct joint patrols with the British Transport Police (BTP), and work with Network Rail and the BTP to patrol areas identified as high risk based on trend analysis.
Natalie Richbell-Beer, Avanti West Coast safeguarding and crime manager, said: “We’ve seen excellent results from our partnership with Amulet over the past three years. Their expertise in safeguarding and commitment to continuous improvement has transformed how we protect passengers across our network, and we’re confident that the Travel Safe initiative will be a positive next step in our safeguarding strategy.”
Kieran Mackie, our managing director, said: “We are proud to build on our successful partnership with Avanti West Coast. The investment of the Travel Safe team will provide additional support to customers through visible and expert safeguarding. Customer perception of safety is critical at times like this, and the Travel Safe team will provide exactly that.”
