A few months ago, I was on a tram in Zurich when a group of teenagers got on. They were eating foul-smelling kebabs of some kind but that was their only offence. They spoke in hushed tones and their behaviour was impeccable.

On Friday nightat about 9.30pm  in Manchester, former policewoman Julie Pickard was on a tram when a group of teenagers got on. (see news on the main site). When she remonstrated with one of them for throwing popcorn at her, she was beaten to within an inch of her life.

Police arrived quickly and arrested a 14-year-old, released her on bail, and are now going through CCTV. Had Mrs Pickard, a judo black belt, been a little older and frailer, she would probably have died.

AND HAD THE POLICE BEEN ON BOARD (AND GIVEN THE EVENTS OF THAT NIGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN), IT WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED AT ALL.

Metrolink has a dedicated police unit for which the Pasenger Transport Authority pays GMP dearly. That means you and I, who already pay separately for the police, through our taxes.

But the contract is due to end in July and will not be renewed. There is a suspicion thatthe police no longer take it seriously, that they have been detailing officers with little future - or enthusiasm to the unit.

I have long  suspected that GMP does not take the low level antisocial behaviour on public transport seriously. How else could a private security firm cut the number of incidents so dramatically when it was given the job of patrolling bus stations and buses?

Well now it is high level disorder which could have ended in murder.

I look forward to hearing what the police are going to do about it……