A Safer Travel ‘Gateway’ operation at the junction of Hockley flyover and Soho Hill in Birmingham earlier this week resulted in five arrests and issuing of fines totalling more than £1,600.

The operation – on Monday 2 August – was in response to local concerns, community intelligence gathered through the ‘See Something, Say Something’ text messaging service and reports from bus operator National Express.

Almost 40 buses on the number 74 and 79 routes were targeted, with members of the Safer Travel Policing Team working in partnership with officers from Birmingham West and Central local policing unit, two dog handlers, revenue inspectors and representatives from the UK Border Agency.

In the space of two hours more than 1,400 passenger tickets were inspected. Five arrests were made: two for possession of cannabis, one for failing to appear at court on a charge of causing an affray and two for immigration offences. In addition, 15 out-of-date travel cards were confiscated.

Acting Sergeant Karen Taylor said: “The ‘See Something, Say Something’ text service – 83010 – enables us to listen to community concerns and subsequently respond by pinpointing anti-social behaviour hot spots and targeting our response accordingly.”

Safer Travel is a partnership between West Midlands Police, the Safer Birmingham Partnership and Centro, the region’s passenger transport authority. The partnership works with the region’s bus operators to make bus travel even safer for passengers by deterring crime and anti-social behaviour on and around the network.