Plans to make bus travel safer for passengers in the North East have been revealed.
Street pastors to look after vulnerable passengers, youth workers across transport networks, and improving the Safer Transport Northumbria App, are among the measures set to be rolled out across the region.
A slice of £2 million from the Safer Streets funding, will be invested into the scheme, which comes after bus passengers highlighted their safety concerns in a survey carried out by Northumbria Police Commissioner Kim McGuinness earlier this year. It found that some bus users had experienced anti-social behaviour, intimidating groups of people on buses and in stations, and alcohol-related issues when travelling.
READ MORE: North East bus passengers urged to have their say on how safety can be improved
PCC Kim McGuinness has now promised solutions to address the issues raised which include tackling youth anti-social behaviour and responding better to complaints. This will see £750,000 invested into measures to improve the region's bus and Metro network as part of the Safer Transport scheme.
"We must get bus travel right," she said.
"We have a lot of plans in place to make travel safer already, which I am supporting with this investment, but with the Government grants that propped up the bus companies during the pandemic disappearing, I’m concerned about the impact on services and prices. It’s crystal clear these things matter so much to people right now."
The investment will include more patrols and support from street pastors to help look after vulnerable passengers and to work in areas that have been identified as "high-harm routes". The Safer Transport Northumbria app will also be improved by developing its mapping and GPS capabilities and linking transport users with key information.
A newly formed Multi Agency Transport Team (MATT) will also bring key organisations together to support the police in tackling issues, particularly around interchanges and transport hubs. The team will be made up of staff members from police, transport providers and local authority community safety teams.
Teams will also be engaging with young people in areas where youth anti-social behaviour has been identified as a particular concern to the public. They will receive more training to deal with incidents of anti-social behaviour and safeguarding.
Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “Our bus network is really important for local people – helping people travel to access education, work or leisure opportunities in a sustainable way.
“It is absolutely essential that people feel safe when travelling in the region, so I’m fully supportive of this investment to improve personal safety which I’m sure will help even more people to use public transport with confidence.”
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