A month-long targeted operation to curb anti-social behaviour is currently underway on the capital’s bus with high visibility police deployed to reassure passengers and deter crime.
Operation SafeBus, which commenced on October 19th, is being mounted to deal with a seasonal increase in anti-social behaviour and crime around Halloween and Bonfire Night. Figures supplied by the Met show this period normally coincides with a 20 per cent increase in bus-related crime.
The Met says during the operation officers and PSCO’s will provide high visibility patrols on transport routes and conduct after school patrols at schools; identify suspects connected with bus-related crime, work with schools to ensure students’ oyster cards are registered and work to reassure the travelling public.
Commander Mark Gore, Safer Transport Command, said the operation “is about setting a standard of good behaviour on the buses, and ensuring a pleasant travelling environment for young people and adults, by tackling the small minority of young people who cause crime and disorder.”
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said “Operations like Safebus are key in the fight to tackle specific areas of concern and enable us to send out a message that anti-social or dangerous behaviour will be dealt with.”
