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Passenger caught urinating in the middle of Rochdale Interchange as LiveChat reaches 500 reports

Thursday, 5 February 2026 16:05

By David Murphy

Rochdale Interchange. Credit: TfGM

A man was issued a fixed penalty notice within minutes after being spotted urinating at Rochdale Interchange, thanks to a rapid police response triggered through the TravelSafe LiveChat service.

The incident was one of several recent examples released by Greater Manchester Police as it marked 500 public reports since launching the discreet messaging tool. LiveChat allows passengers to flag antisocial or criminal behaviour directly to trained call handlers without drawing attention.

CCTV operators monitoring the transport hub acted immediately when the man was seen urinating in a public area. Officers were dispatched and located the offender within minutes, issuing a penalty notice on the spot.

The service, part of the wider Bee Network partnership between GMP and Transport for Greater Manchester, is designed to support swift action across the public transport system. Other recent incidents resolved through LiveChat include abusive tram passengers, fare evasion, and safeguarding reports involving children.

Neil Smitham, Call Handling Supervisor at GMP, said the 500-report milestone demonstrated how much the public trusts the tool. “We are proud of the real-time responses and how the service is helping people feel safer while travelling,” he said.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, added that LiveChat reflects the region’s new approach to transport policing, offering quick, discreet support to passengers who feel unsafe or witness misconduct.

TfGM’s TravelSafe Manager, Kate Green, confirmed that LiveChat continues to play a vital role in supporting GMP officers and deterring nuisance behaviour on the Bee Network.

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