Op. Trident Launches Community Bus

Sat, 13 March 2010 Courtesy of: Metropolitan Police

Operation Trident, the Metropolitan Police Service's anti-shootings team, is unveiling a new tool in the fight against gun crime.

In a move to inform and reassure members of the public about Trident-related activity, officers are deploying a community engagement vehicle.

Marked with the distinctive Trident livery, the minibus will be present at major incidents and operations including shootings, arrests and anniversary appeals.

“We hope this will provide us with another opportunity for the police and the community to work together”

Officers manning the vehicle will be on hand to answer questions and address concerns raised by members of the public about incidents within their community.

They will also supply information about Trident's work and provide advice about crime prevention and general support resources.

Unlike other MPS people carriers, the Trident bus will contain seating, a table and a power supply to ensure that members of the public can talk with officers in warmth and comfort.

Trident's Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson said "We hope the vehicle will raise awareness of our work and help provide members of the public with timely information about Trident's activities.

"We want to let people know that we are doing all we can to tackle gun crime and the fear of gun crime within the Capital.

"We hope this will provide us with another opportunity for the police and the community to work together in partnership in preventing, detecting and combating gun related criminality."

The bus will next be deployed in Brixton, South London, on 15 March at the two-year anniversary appeal for information about the murder of 19-year-old Nicholas Clarke. The teenager was shot on the evening of 14 March on the Myatts Field Estate, SW9.