Tram damage youngsters made to clean up their act
A GROUP of schoolchildren who hurled rocks at Metrolink were made to clean up their act... and a tram.
Five youngsters aged 10 were responsible for throwing missiles at three passing trams at Failsworth in the summer.
One passenger was left with minor injuries and the line had to be temporarily suspended.
The M.E.N reported in October that the children were to carry out cleaning work as part of the restorative justice programme – which aims to reform those who commit antisocial behaviour.
And now Metrolink has included an image of their punishment in action as part of a public report to councillors.
It shows the youths wearing high-viz and wielding buckets and sponges as they clean trams in their half-term break.
The children also met up with two drivers whose trams were damaged during the incident. The drivers explained what impact the incident had on them and their passengers during the session at Queen’s Park depot.
The children were shown pictures of the damage and were warned reoffending could result in a charge and appearance at a youth court. Home visits were made and their parents were involved. The youngsters apologised for their actions and agreed to become young ambassadors for Metrolink.
Figures obtained by the M.E.N with a Freedom of Information request show yobs have attacked the Metrolink network nearly 1,200 times over two years. It’s led to a crackdown by the TravelSafe team of security staff, PCSOs and GMP officers. Restorative justice holds offenders to account, helps them take responsibility for their actions and make amends. To date, there have been no reported cases of reoffending by those ordered to go through the process.
Chief Insp Colette Rose, from GMP, said: “I’m pleased to hear the use of restorative justice has been successful on this occasion and the children have apologised for their actions.”