Media Centre

Bobbies on the bus

16 Oct 2009

Officers from Perry Barr Neighbourhood Policing Team recently conducted a bus operation in conjunction with National Express West Midlands.
 
Officers joined the travelling public on their route through Perry Barr to target passengers who repeatedly commit acts of anti social behaviour and help bus conductors catch out fare dodgers.
 
As a result of the initiative 25 people were issued with penalty tickets for not paying the correct fare and a further two individuals were arrested for other offences.

Sergeant Paul Swallow from Perry Barr neighbourhood policing team said: “With the current drive to get people to use public transport, it is important that the travelling public feel safe. It’s also important that people who pay their fares aren’t subsidising those that don’t. This was a successful operation and we will be looking to repeat it in the near future”.
 
Tony Dallison from National Express West Midlands said: “These joint operations help to reassure customers that anti social behaviour and fare dodging will not be tolerated on our buses. Customer safety is our primary concern and we’ll continue to work with the neighbourhood policing teams to help prevent and deter crime."
 
Crime on and around the region’s bus network has plummeted by 41 per cent over the last two years and is now at a four year low. All new National Express West Midland buses are fitted with CCTV in and around the vehicle to identify problem passengers.
Customers who witness anti social behaviour on board the bus network can report it to the ‘See something, say something’ text line.  All information is passed on to the Safer Travel Police team to plan future operations to help deter and prevent crime on the bus network. Passengers who witness nuisance behaviour can text details to: 07624 818332. In an emergency always dial ‘999.’
ENDS