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Newsletter Merton Safer Transport Team July eddition Safer Transport Team to the Rescue When Shira Gordon found herself unable to get home from her shopping trip, PCSO's Rob King and Ritik Devji came to her rescue. Her motorised wheel chair had come to a stop outside Centre Court bus stop and she was unable to get home. The officers pushed driver and mobility scooter home saving her both time and money. There are no lengths to which the Safer Transport Team won’t go to assist our travelling community. The Safer Transport Teams current priorities are: 57 & 131 Bus routes • Morden Bus Stand • 93 Bus Route Safer Transport updates Last month police were called to a bus stop outside Morden underground where the London ambulance service had been called to a man who was found to be drunk and shouting obscenities to the paramedics. Steven Brooker 33 of Morden was arrested, charged and bailed to appear in court for a public order act offence of, shouting abuse at members of the public. He attended Wimbledon Magistrate Court where he received a £100 fine. Walking to School There have been issues around overcrowding at many of the bus stops within Wimbledon Town Centre and on the buses. It was found that students were using their Oyster cards to travel short distances thus adding to the congestion. Wimbledon Smarter Travel Initiative started in April and two of our local schools Ursuline High School and Ricard’s Lodge are taking part in the scheme. The students are encouraged to walk to school validating a card at designated points. By doing so they are entitled to a free breakfast and if they walk to school five days out of eight they will receive a £5 Top Shop voucher. If they walk eight days out of 14 they receive one child and one adult cinema ticket. Colin Saddington the School Officer at Ricard’s Lodge said that 170 pupils are currently walking to school and the numbers are increasing. This scheme is supported by TFL and they will be reviewing the effectiveness of this initiative in the next few weeks. Bus stop surgeries Bus Stop surgeries are very helpful to us as we are able to obtain opinions and concerns from you the passengers. We use this information to focus on problem areas making it safer for you to travel. The next surgeries will be held at:- Sainsbury’s Merton (formally Savacentre) and Lidl Morden on 11th August 2009, 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm. On 13th August 2009 at the bus stop near Blockbusters in Mitcham and at Sainsbury’s Worple road 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm. Wimbledon Chase Co-op on 14th August 10am -12pm and 1pm - 3pm. Please feel free to come along and talk to members of the Safer Transport Team. Operation at Wimbledon On June 11th an operation was held at Wimbleon British Rail Station. Not only was the Safer Transport Team there but officers from Raynes Park, Merton Park and St. Helier’s Safer Neighbourhoods teams took part. A screening arch was in use in which members of the public were invited to walk through. A number of stop and searches took place. One arrest resulted for an outstanding offence of criminal damage. Tram Issues Travelling on the tram during rush hour can be very stressful and we have received some complaints from the public informing us that there are problems at certain stops with overcrowding. You will be pleased to know that there are extra passenger safety officers now assisting between 7am - 8:30 am at Mitcham, Phipps Bridge and Belgrave Walk tram stops. We are always pleased to receive information from the public about issues around the tram and we will do our very best to resolve them. You can contact us on 07825 386 725 020 8721 2259 STT.Merton@met.police.uk TEAM Inspector Dave Robling Sergeant Sarah Coleman Sergeant Ann Osland A/Sergeant James Burgess PC Jp Carmier PC Pete Beatty PCSO Wayne Marques PCSO Yohann Sunderam PCSO Phillipa La Fontaine PCSO James Saunders PCSO Christine Storey PCSO Rob King PCSO Louise Russell PCSO Mellisa Lucas PCSO Gemma Stenning PCSO Ritik Devji PCSO Jamie Keen PCSO Yiu-Hay Man PCSO Steven Vella PCSO Sarah O’Keefe PCSO Mark Collins PCSO Kim Lim PCSO James Spink PCSO Charley Shearing PCSO Daniel Crowley PCSO Robert Tracey PCSO Luke Holland