Operation Safenet targets crime hotspots across the network
Louis Corbett Trainee Reporter
17:10, 13 Dec 2025
Police officers pictured at the Nottingham Station tram stop in Nottingham city centre.(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Crime is leaving some travellers scared to get on the tram at night – but authorities hope that their new Operation Safenet will help ease their minds on the NET network.
This initiative, led by the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, involves several officers being stationed in hotspot areas on select evenings, as well as a permanent police presence in the CCTV control centre.
Chief Inspector Mike Ebbins said: “We are targeting the hotspots, but we want to target with a purpose; it all depends on what the issue is that day.
“By having the officer embedded in the control room, we’ve expedited the results and made arrests very quickly. In one example, we managed to identify someone and make an arrest within two hours.”
The scheme was piloted in August 2025, with the PCC stating that they aim to roll this type of high-visibility operation out on different modes of public transport in the near future.
Nottinghamshire Live talked to tram users who have welcomed more visibility on the network at night.
Carrie Evans, 55, said: “I only use it in the day, it can be too rough at night.
“I don’t really like getting on the tram at certain stops. I think that it will help with that, but there are so many people who get on to cause trouble. Sometimes I just get an Uber.
“To be honest, I always feel safe in the day, but it’s more at night that I worry.”
Chris Knight, 22, added: “I think in the daytime, it is pretty safe but it’s needed at night.
“I’ve been shouted at before, had people intimidating me and often felt like it’s not the safest environment, but I think that it’s better than walking through some of these areas at night.
“I’ve only been here for a few years so I couldn’t give loads of examples, but it is good that they are doing something about it. “
Nottingham City Council, the PCC, the British Transport Police, Nottinghamshire Police, and NET have teamed up for the initiative in a bid to boost visibility on the network.
Keith Illsley, 49, said: “I rarely come to Nottingham, and when I do, I feel quite safe.”
He added: “It’s just good that the authorities can get their act together.
“I just hope they can keep it up all year as it isn’t only Christmas when anti-social behaviour happens.”
While these operations will take place sporadically across each month, NET will now have a permanent police officer stationed in the control room to streamline collaboration between different organisations in the event of any incident or anti-social behaviour.
Deputy PCC Angela Kandola said: “We want everybody to be travelling safely and feeling safe when they go into the city and come out of the city.
“It’s about partnership working, we have police working with NET trams and other partners, it’s about coming together to keep people safe.”
Chief Inspector Mike Ebbins of Nottinghamshire Police pictured at the Wilkinson Street tram stop in Nottingham.(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Shaun Kenneth, service delivery and security manager at NET, added: “December always marks the busiest time of the year for our trams and the wider city.
“However, this year, through our partnership with the PCC and Nottinghamshire Police, we’re pleased to be able to help the people of Nottingham feel safer as they enjoy all the city has to offer this festive season.
“High visibility patrols such as [this] mark a key moment in the partnership.
“Such patrols are an integral part of the Operation Safenet initiative, and are about making sure all our passengers, locals and visitors to the city feel seen and supported.”
When asked about the outcomes of the operation, the authorities stated that the figures would be published in 2026.
