Plain clothes police officers are being deployed in a bid to tackle crime on trouble-blighted bus routes.
Cheshire Constabulary said it’s working with Arriva in a bid to reduce the misery endured by passengers travelling in Runcorn, in particular Murdishaw. A force spokeswoman said it follows 17 incidents on the transport network already this year, from bricks being thrown to smash windows to seats being burned and violent assault.
She said the scheme is aimed at deterring antisocial behaviour and criminal damage while reassuring residents. As well as buses being cancelled, the spokeswoman said attacks on public transport have caused more than £4,000 of damage.
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Plain clothes officers will now be “patrolling” trouble hotspots to keep passengers and drivers safe and to take “necessary action against those causing the disruption.”
Selecta DNA will also be applied to items such as glass hammers and emergency stop buttons, so police can quickly identify trouble-makers.
Inspector Daniel Haddock, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit (LPU), said: “Our aim is to reassure the public that officers are out and about regularly patrolling the bus routes in Runcorn, with a particular focus on services within the Murdishaw area.
“Our officers will be hidden in plain sight and will be ready to act if anyone is intent on causing harm to the public and ensure that they are removed and robustly dealt with.
“Although you may not be aware of their presence, they will be ready to disrupt any issues that arise on the routes that have been impacted by incidents of antisocial or nuisance behaviour in the past.”
Inspector Haddock added: “I know there are members of the community who rely on buses as an essential form of transport, and they deserve to feel safe on their journey.
“While we are committed to doing all we can to tackle these incidents, it’s essential that the community play their part, as they are the ones who will suffer the most if the bus routes are cancelled.
“I would urge parents in the local area to check where your children are and ensure that they understand how greatly this behaviour could impact those who rely on bus services most and the wider impact on not only themselves but their families if they were to be causing the trouble.
“I would also like to ask anyone who has witnessed any of the behaviour, or anyone who knows the people responsible, to contact us on 101 or report it via our website so that we can ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
Peter Sass, Arriva head of operations, said: “In recent weeks, we have experienced a number of antisocial incidents across our Runcorn service routes and these have led to difficult but necessary decisions being made on some services being temporarily removed from the area.
“Furthermore, our on-board CCTV has been downloaded to aid the police in their investigations and subsequent prosecutions of antisocial behaviour perpetrators. We’re proudly working in partnership with Cheshire Police, to seek a resolution to issues as quickly as possible, for the benefit of our staff, our customers and our communities.”
Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale, whose constituency includes most of east Runcorn, said: “I’m deeply concerned to hear about antisocial and criminal behaviour on and around buses in the Murdishaw area of Runcorn. This is completely unacceptable and, in some cases, highly dangerous and illegal.
“Drivers and passengers should not have to tolerate such conduct, which also puts the future of our vital bus services in jeopardy. This issue involves a small minority.
“I would like to make a plea to families and the community to help keep our young people on the right track. That is a collective responsibility we all share.”
Anyone with information on ASB in their area can report it to Cheshire Police via cheshire.police.uk
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