A teenage boy has been charged after a female bus driver was punched, kicked, robbed and spat on amid claims of a youth crime wave in Perth over the holiday period.
The incident allegedly happened shortly after 7pm on Thursday at the Victoria Park station, as a group of people were leaving the bus following disturbances on board.
WA Police say the 13-year-old boy kicked the driver as she was trying to leave the bus, and also stole her phone, before a 32-year-old woman punched her in the face.
Both the teenager and the woman have been charged and will face court later this month.
WA Police spokesman Sam Dinnison said the incident was disturbing.
"I always hate hearing about bus drivers and public officers out there being assaulted, or even just being yelled at or having people being aggressive towards them," he said.
"These people are out doing a job for the community, they deserve a lot of respect for what they do so.
Anti-social behaviour has increased: union
Transport Workers Union lead organiser Shane O'Brien said there had been a rise in anti-social behaviour.
Mr O'Brien told Nine Radio the bus driver had been released from hospital.
"She's returned home, so on the face of it, that is good news in terms of physical injuries," he said.
"But I think the psychological damage is something that is often ignored in these circumstances."
Mr O'Brien said there had been requests from bus drivers for better security, but progress had been slow.
"We've had three really significant incidents in the last couple of months, at Stirling, Bunbury and now this one.
"But there's a rise in anti-social behaviour in general at the moment.
"The other day three people got on a bus with hammers and started smashing things up."
Mr O'Brien said industrial action to ensure better protection for drivers could be an option.
"People that go to work shouldn't have to worry about going home in an ambulance, or worse, not getting home at all."
Seven youths arrested in two days
The 13-year-old has been charged amid an apparent escalation in juvenile crime in Perth.
Since the beginning of January, at least 16 juveniles have been charged with more than 100 serious offences.
This includes two boys who were charged by police after 13 vehicles were damaged by objects, including rocks, being thrown from an overpass on Mitchell Freeway in Kingsley on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, WA Police revealed seven juveniles, aged from 16 to 17, had been arrested in relation to burglaries, armed robberies and stealing offences in Huntingdale, Byford, Applecross and Southern River.
The boys have collectively been charged with more than two-dozen offences, including aggravated armed robbery, stealing motor vehicles and assault with intent to prevent arrest.
Should any not be granted bail, they will most likely be sent to Banksia Hill Detention Centre, which has faced intense scrutiny in recent months.
In the latest controversy surrounding the centre, it was revealed a girl with severe autism was locked in solitary confinement for more than seven months.
In what the WA government describes as a "last resort", detainees from Banksia Hill are sometimes relocated to an isolated unit at Casuarina Prison, if their behaviour is considered "extreme".
Earlier in the week, police revealed detectives had charged five people in relation to home and business burglaries, including a 16-year-old boy from Maddington, a 15-year-old boy from Cable Beach and a 14-year-old boy from Broome.
The incidents occurred in the Perth, Cannington and Joondalup districts between Christmas Day 2022 and January 4.
And two 13-year-old boys and an 11-year-old boy have been charged with multiple offences including assault, criminal damage, aggravated robbery, stealing and attempted aggravated robbery after they threw rocks at people and buses in Success.
One of the boys also allegedly assaulted a teenage boy on a bus.
