Surge in yob attacks on our buses and trams
THREAT TO WITHDRAW SERVICES AFTER DOZENS OF ‘DANGEROUS’ ACTS OF VANDALISM
DRIVERS and passengers have been injured during a spate of ‘dangerous’ vandalism incidents on bus and tram services across Greater Manchester.
A bus driver was injured when he was hit by glass smashed by a missile thrown from the side of the road and another was hit on the back of the head when a missile was thrown through the window of his bus.
Passengers have also been injured during some incidents, operators say.
Bricks, baseball bats and scooters have been hurled at moving vehicles in recent months, with 49 separate incidents of criminal damage to buses recorded since the start of the year.
A further 62 incidents of criminal damage have been recorded on the Metrolink network, including 31 incidents of smashed tram windows and 31 incidents of damage to shelters and validators.
Vehicles had to be removed from service following these incidents.
Matt Rawlinson, Diamond Bus North West deputy managing director, has warned that this will happen unless bosses can ‘work with the community to put a stop to these dangerous acts of vandalism.’
Back in November, he warned that buses may have to be withdraw from the Langley section of the 163 route after around 10 attacks on a new fleet of branded buses. Inspector Jon Middleton, of Greater Manchester Police’s Transport Unit, said the reports are being investigated.
He said officers take a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to this kind of behaviour that puts our communities at risk.’
He added: “Anti-social behaviour on public transport is not acceptable and can have a major effect on other passengers.”
The Greater Manchester TravelSafe Partnership (TSP) is reviewing footage to identify those involved in acts of vandalism and violence on the transport network.
They say most attacks are thought to involve ‘teenage youths’ and so the team are working with schools and using driver interviews to reinforce the human impact of the incidents.
A driver was hit to the back of the head when a missile was thrown through the window of the 328 Stagecoach service on the Bridgehall Estate, in Stockport, last Wednesday evening. During a separate incident a bus driver required medical attention after he was hit by glass smashed by a missile thrown from the side of the road.
The attacks on vehicles have resulted in services being diverted or withdrawn from certain routes, impacting the wider community by potentially isolating those reliant on buses for essential travel.
Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor for Policing, Crime and Criminal Justice, Bev Hughes, said: “It is outrageous to hear of these appalling incidents and my thoughts are with the injured bus driver and affected passengers.
“The damage has resulted in services being diverted or withdrawn, which then has a wider impact on our communities who rely on them for essential journeys and for key worker jobs.
“Public safety is of paramount importance to us, and the TravelSafe Partnership staff are continuing to keep our transport system safe and moving.”
The Partnership shares data and intelligence using body worn cameras, call points on all trams and stops and a 24/7 control room. There are more than 2,000 CCTV cameras across the Metrolink network.
During the pandemic the TSP has already run 52 days of action in 28 different locations across the region to remind passengers about the importance of wearing a face covering and other safe travel measures.