Roads and Transport Policing Command

The Safer Transport Command (formerly "Transport Operational Command Unit" or "TOCU") is a unit of the London Metropolitan Police Service that polices buses, bus routes, taxis and minicabs. It does not police national railways in London, London Underground, Docklands Light Railway or Tramlink, which fall under the remit of the British Transport Police (BTP). General road policing is performed by a separate Traffic Operational Command Unit.

Formed in 2002 as a joint venture with Transport for London (TfL), it consolidated several existing policing operations. It is now the largest Operational Command Unit in the Metropolitan Police, with over 1000 staff, and is a large employer of Traffic Wardens and Police Community Support Officers. The OCU also has Special Constables working alongside regular officers in all areas of the command.

The Unit maintains a joint command and control centre with London Buses called MetroComm, which is also the command and control centre of the Traffic Operational Command Unit.

On 1 April 2009, Transport OCU has become part of Territorial Policing. On 29 September 2009, Transport OCU became known as the Safer Transport Command.

In response a survey conducted by TfL, which showed that 15% of women using public transport in London had been the subject of some form of unwanted sexual behaviour but that 90% of incidents went unreported, the Safer Transport Command—in conjunction with the BTP, City of London Police, and TfL—launched Project Guardian, which aimed to reduce sexual offences and increase reporting.

External links

• Safer Transport Command official website