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As was stated earlier the vast majority of public transport journeys pass without incident. However the figures outlined earlier show that, particularly after dark, people feel unsafe using public transport. Unless all people feel confident in using public transport they will be forced into their own cars or, where that choice is not available, be excluded from playing an active role in society.

There is obviously a need to promote more positive messages, promote the fact that public transport is secure and to communicate success. The Home Office also recognises the need for Crime and Disorder Partnerships to address the issue of public reassurance and reducing the fear of crime. From 2003/04 local authorities will have a Best Value Performance Indicator to meet on Public Reassurance and Quality of Life.

As part of this strategy there are a number of specific actions we will be taking that will aim to provide public reassurance. The key action will be the development of a communications strategy for TravelSafe. This strategy will be written in the first year of the strategy and will include:

• Planning marketing campaigns promoting positive messages. This will include linking to other complementary activity such as that by the Safer Merseyside Partnership and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
• Encouraging links with the local media in developing campaigns and initiatives
• Promoting positive messages to young people
• Promoting successes with common TravelSafe messages such as the promotion in the early summer of 2002 of the use of CCTV on buses, the joint agency operation and the first meeting of the Partnership Board
• Ensuring feedback to the community and transport staff is built into all schemes and initiatives
• Developing, in alliance with other similar initiatives, ways in which the public can report acts of crime and disorder more easily and promote the use of Crimestoppers for the public to provide anonymous information about crime
• Developing key contacts on issues from Partnership Board members who will respond to media enquiries
• Use of TravelSafe logo on letterheads, press releases etc

However, words alone will not deliver true reassurance. It will only be by developing targeted, sustained activities such as those outlined in this strategy that real reassurance will be delivered, including reducing the levels of crime and disorder on the public transport network.