The man boarded a tram which was quickly stopped by police
A wanted man was tracked down to a tram to Manchester over two incidents that occurred at a bus station in Tameside and hospital in Oldham. Officers held and intercepted the Metrolink service at Velopark on Thursday (December 18).
Greater Manchester Police said the suspect was arrested after they received reports of an intoxicated male at Ashton-under-Lyne Interchange who had been harassing passengers and the driver of a bus.
The male then boarded a tram to Manchester, which was stopped when arriving at Velopark. Enquiries later revealed the suspect was wanted following a racially aggravated incident at OIdham Hospital.
Police said it was reported that a man had racially abused staff and security officers at the hospital earlier on Thursday. He was arrested in connection with the incident, and on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, and taken into custody.
A statement shared by GMP Oldham read: “Today officers from the GMP Transport Unit responded to a report of an intoxicated male at Ashton Interchange who was harassing passengers and the driver of a bus. Prior to officers arriving the male boarded a tram bound for Manchester.
“Officers liaised with Metrolink control and the tram was held at Velopark Metrolink stop where the male was intercepted. Enquires were conducted and it was established that the male was wanted in relation to a racially aggravated public order offence earlier that day at Oldham hospital where the male had racially abused staff and security officers. The male was subsequently arrested and will be interviewed in due course.
“The Transport Unit routinely conduct deployments on the transport network alongside out partners. Aggression and violence by any person will not be tolerated and you will be swiftly dealt with. Our deployments are designed to prevent and detect crime to make the transport system safer for everyone to use.”
