A new Neighbourhood Policing Team, covering West Yorkshire's rail network, was launched in Huddersfield.

Officers from the British Transport Police team, comprising one Inspector, two Sergeants, five PCs, and twelve Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be dedicated to policing trains services and stations across the whole of West Yorkshire.  

The team will engage regularly with the commuters who use the stations as well as adjoining retail and licensed premises to identify concerns and local policing priorities.

The officers will also work closely with partner agencies such as Metro, West Yorkshire Police, Network Rail, Train Operating Companies, universities and local residents groups to address any issues that are identified.

"Public transport remains one of the safest forms of travelling in West Yorkshire," said Metro Chairman Cllr Ryk Downes, "with recorded incidents representing a fraction of a percentage of the 220 million bus and train journeys made each year.

"Partnerships such as the one we have with British Transport Police are a key element of that success, and the introduction of a dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team will serve to reassure passengers as well as acting as a deterrent to would-be criminals."

Inspector Brian Buddo is responsible for managing BTP's Neighbourhood Policing Teams across West Yorkshire. "We launched NPT in Leeds and Bradford in 2006," he said. "In the short time they have been operational they have proved a huge success reducing incidents and making people feel safer when using the railway network which is why we are now expanding them across West Yorkshire in at attempt to mirror this success elsewhere.

"It is very important that people who regularly use the trains and stations have a say as to how they are policed. The aim is to listen to your concerns and then attempt to tackle the root cause of the problems.

"We want to ensure it is not just BTP who set the policing objectives but the people who use, work and live near to the stations."

High on the agenda for the team will be reassuring passengers and rail staff by tackling anti-social behaviour, drunkenness, shop-lifting and people who avoid paying their fare.