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This is why dozens of new CCTV cameras have been installed at Manchester Victoria station

Northern has explained the reason for these increased security measures.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th March 2024

A whole host of new CCTV cameras have been installed throughout one of Manchester’s busiest railway stations.

A total of 86 new CCTV cameras have been installed and are now in operation at Manchester Victoria station, it has been confirmed, as part of a wider £750,000 scheme that’s set to provide “even safer journeys” for rail customers all across the North.

It’s all because Northern has vowed to improve CCTV coverage at the city centre station, as well as at dozens of its other stations on the network.

The investment programme, as mentioned before – which was announced by Northern last year – includes more than 600 new CCTV cameras at Northern stations, and is already proving successful, as the train operator revealed that number of ‘dangerous attacks’ recorded on its trains had fallen by almost 90% within the year.

There were 69 recorded ‘dangerous attack’ incidents in 2022, but just eight of them in 2023.  

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Dozens of new CCTV cameras have been installed at Manchester Victoria station / Credit: Northern

Some of these incidents included trains being struck by objects thrown from bridges, railway embankments and stations, or trains colliding with ‘substantial items’ that were deliberately placed on the track. 

On top of these 600+ new cameras – including the 86 at Manchester Victoria – Northern has also installed 7,000 HD CCTV cameras on board its fleet of trains, and has invested £1.7 million in the roll-out of more than 1,000 extra body-worn camera kits to colleagues across its network – which takes the total number now in operation to 1,300. 

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“We already have thousands of cameras at stations across our network and on-board our trains,” explained Craig Harrop, who is the Regional Director at Northern, following the installing of the new CCTV cameras.

“But we are adding more with this £750,000 investment to ensure customers and colleagues always feel safe.”

It’s part of a wider £750,000 scheme that’s set to provide “even safer journeys” for rail customers / Credit: Northern

Northern is also encouraging the Greater Manchester and wider northern public to report any anti-social behaviour witnessed to the British Transport Police (BTP) – with Mr Harrop adding: ” While CCTV often discourages criminal and anti-social behaviour, if offenders are caught on camera, police can also use the footage to bring them to justice.”

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Anyone who witnesses criminal activity on the railway should contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40. 

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You can also report crimes via the BTP ‘Railway Guardian’ app online too.

Featured Image – Northern

News

Tesco are introducing ‘VAR-style’ self-checkouts in the UK

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tesco VAR self checkout video

Many people think VAR has already gone too far and want it gone from football full stop, and we’re here to tell you that you’re a fool; your hopes are in vain, and the technology is only going to become more common as time goes on. Sorry.

So much so, in fact, that Tesco look are bringing in their own virtual referee into self-checkout systems in shops. You could say the ‘game’s gone…’

Of course, we’re being a bit flippant here, but if you have seen ‘VAR’ and ‘Tesco‘, you’re not seeing things: this is genuinely a thing that is being rolled out here in the UK, with video footage of the supermarket chain’s next self-checkout technology going viral online.

Thought you’d got away with sneaking an extra little something in the bag without paying? Think again.

We’ll admit, this was the first time we’d come across the technology, but as it turns out, the updated self-checkout service has been in place for a while.

Similar VAR checkouts have already been installed at other retailers, Sainsbury’s and ASDA, although some reports claim that while stores capture footage of shoppers to check if they’ve scanned all of their items, it is thought that not all of these self-service tills show a playback when an error is detected.

Although this particular speculation has sparked some uproar and debate online, many have quite rightly pointed out that CCTV records your movement in any given shop.

Regardless, it’s fair to say that aside from the obvious memes and people poking fun at the new system, many on social media have shared some pretty strong opinions on the matter.

Not that it matters much – it’s likely this will soon become increasingly the norm, with the likes of Sainsbury’s having already introduced barriers which require customers to scan their receipt in order to leave at branches such as the site on Regent Road Retail Park over in Salford.

As yet, it’s unclear how many of these new self-service tills are in operation and whether they are limited to larger supermarket locations of their Express convenience stores, but don’t be surprised if you come across one.

Put simply, if a barcode isn’t registered before being put on the scale and/or set aside to be packed away, the Tesco till will read: “The last item wasn’t scanned properly. Remove from bagging area and try again.”

While it is obviously an effort to curb stealing, which remains one of the big drawbacks of self-service (shoplifting in England and Wales went up by 20% last year), Tesco has insisted that the goal is to improve convenience.

Addressing these new VAR-style checkouts in an official statement, a company spokesperson said: “We are always looking at technology to make life easier for our customers.

“We have recently installed a new system at some stores which helps customers using self-service checkouts identify if an item has not been scanned properly, making the checkout process quicker and easier.”

What do you make of the new Tesco and their new VAR self-checkout technology?

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You can now get a Pot Noodle as part of your Tesco meal deal
We don’t know about Tesco perpetuating VAR, but we can definitely get behind this one – that’s for damn sure.

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Featured Images — Tesco PLC/pin add/Mikey (via Flickr)

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Ruben Amorim reacts as Manchester United are booed off after Malaysia friendly

Danny Jones Danny Jones Ruben Amorim on Man United being booed off in Malaysia friendly

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a fairly brutal response after his club were booed off by supporters during a friendly in Malaysia.

The Red Devils recently embarked on a post-season tour following a calamitous 2024/25 campaign, both domestically and continentally, with that limp loss in the Europa League final, but have already resumed what has become alarmingly normal service with yet another defeat.

Finding themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur – a squad comprised of various talents from around the region who had never played together before and were only founded as an actual team back in 2014 – it was all far from clean slates and fresh starts.

In the wake of the shock result, Man United were booed off by the Malaysian and other international fans inside the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which saw more than 70,000 in attendance.

For context, the ASEAN All-Stars had only trained together for the first time just days before the game itself, but the de facto exhibition outfit still managed to break the deadlock in the 71st minute against a United side that rarely looked like scoring.

What made things even more damning was that so many up in the stands travelled from far and wide to see Ruben’s Reds and what remains a beloved global sporting brand drastically disappoint, with some reported as having paid as much as $350 (approximately £260) for a ticket.

All that being said, Amorim had some choice words for his own players in his post-match duties after their first post-season tour fixture, insisting that while he always remains accountable, those out on the pitch perhaps received somewhat of a deserved reckoning too.

He began by stating, “I’m always guilty of the performance of the team, no matter what. [I have been responsible] since the first day”, but went on to argue: “The boos from the fans, I think it something that we need, maybe.”

It’s also been claimed that Amorim has now told young winger Alejandro Garnacho to find a new club due to some of his recent public comments – a conversation which is said to have taken place in front of other teammates.

Citing that the Old Trafford faithful and die-hard away fans have always been loyal and supportive despite frustration in the league, he suggested that “maybe they will change the way they behave” following this latest reality check.

Despite adding that he has seen reasons for optimism in performances against Man City and Liverpool, for instance, where he felt he saw “belief” and seeds of what’s to come, he’s made very few excuses for the poor displays up to now.

United face the Hong Kong national team in their next friendly on Friday, 29 May, and it’s fair to say anything less than a win would be beyond bad for the predictably unpredictable Premier League club.

You can see his full post-match press conference down below.

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Featured Images — Manchester United (screenshot via YouTube)/Edward Kuruvilla (via X)

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