"BRING BACK CONDUCTORS ON BENDY BUSES" - POPE

1.05.18pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Aug 2006

Following the publication of the list of emergency 'code red' figures on 40 of London's most dangerous bus routes today, Liberal Democrat Chair of the Transport Committee on the London Assembly, Geoff Pope, said:

"These alarming figures are proof that anti social behaviour on buses is a growing problem.

'We have been getting reports from Borough Commanders across London that free Oystercards for the under 16s are exporting crime and anti-social behaviour from the streets onto buses. With two thirds of bendy bus routes featuring code red incidents and the number 25 toping the list of crime hot spots, there is clearly sense in reintroducing conductors on articulated buses.

'The fare evasion rate on bendy buses is almost three times that of conventional buses so the cost of the scheme would pay for itself as conductors crack down on fare dodgers. Law abiding passengers have a right to travel without fear of intimidation from youths who use buses as free hang-outs"

ENDS

Notes to the Editors

1. In the case of an emergency, known as 'code red', bus drivers can communicate with a service controller via a private hands free network at central command. Officers form the Transport Operational Command Unit (TOCU) are then dispatched to attend the incident.

Breakdown of 'code red' antisocial behaviour incidents reported to TfL between 1st April 2005 and 31st March 2006 for the top 40 routes

ROUTE Total

1 25 471

2 61 458

3 29 438

4 140 399

5 207 376

6 18 369

7 149 342

8 266 328

9 427 323

10 51 322

11 176 317

12 12 316

13 96 311

14 174 297

15 94 294

16 250 291

17 N207 287

18 182 284

19 N29 284

20 453 278

21 86 266

22 N159 265

23 2 264

24 38 263

25 229 260

26 57 252

27 134 249

28 282 248

29 53 247

30 89 243

31 109 242

32 73 239

33 286 230

34 279 223

35 247 220

36 W3 217

37 254 215

38 5 214

39 16 212

40 102 210

22nd June 2006 Transport Policing & Enforcement Directorate

Source: SMART-CaT database, TPED, Anti-social behaviour business function Code Red calls from 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006.

NB

It is important to note that this breakdown is of reported incidents and not reported crimes on the network.

Also, the category of Anti Social Behaviour includes disturbances, assaults, forgery/fraud, vandalism and robbery/theft incidents. It is also important to note that these incidents range in severity from very minor disturbances, such as eggs being thrown, to spitting, verbal abuse, threatening behaviour and pushing to the more serious incidents involving weapons.

We also actively encourage reporting of these type of incidents as it allows TfL and the police to develop intelligence information for the network and effectively deal with issues.

These figures also relate to approximately 1 anti-social related code red1 call per 33,0002 passenger journeys3

2. Latest fare evasion rates as quoted in TfL Board papers of 24 May 2006 are 2.3% for conventional single and double deck buses and 7.8% on articulated buses.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/downloads/pdf/about-tfl/board-meetings/Agenda-and-Papers-May-2006.pdf