Drive to improve safety for students on London buses
TACKLING HATE CRIME ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT MUST BE A PRIORITY, SAYS COUNCILLOR
MORE safety measures are needed on buses to protect people from racism, harassment and gangs, campaigners have said.
Schoolchildren in London have been campaigning for drivers to allow pupils to board even if they forget their pass, due to the risk of violence after school.
The children said some drivers refused to let youngsters, who were on their own, get on if they do not have their bus pass with them.
Hardyal Dhindsa, a councillor in Derbyshire and a former police and crime commissioner, said he led on a partnership called ‘Operation Routemaster’ in order to tackle the problem of hate crime on buses and give drivers the tools to easily report any incidents.
He told Eastern Eye: “When I was police and crime commissioner, I made it a priority for Derbyshire Police and other partners to robustly tackle hate crime.
“No one should be racially abused on our buses and other public transport.
“Many victims of racial abuse don’t report it because they think nothing will get done or that it will waste police time. I say, ‘don’t hesitate, but stand up for your rights.’”
Dhindsa added: “As the national lead for police and crime commissioners, I campaigned to get better recording and resourcing to tackle hate crime.
“It was not easy and I fear it may have slipped of the priority list now that I am no longer in the role. I hope I am wrong.
“Transport companies need to work proactively with this issue, and this is a good example how it can work.”
Aliya, a student from east London, carried out research for the charity Citizens UK, which found that some children feel unsafe on public transport.
She said: “I have got concerns across London. Our voice should be listened to. I feel unsafe, a lot of students do too.
“I feel like drivers need to let students on when they have their uniform on and don’t have their Oyster card.”
Gabriel, another south Asian student involved in the project, said: “We have got students having difficulties getting onto public transport, especially buses and trains.
“And because it’s such long distances, it’s hard for them to get home at a safe time.”
Recent incidents of racism have included a 65-year-old man being arrested on suspicion of racially or religiously aggravated harassment on a bus in Dudley, Midlands, in July.
In Wales, a 13-year-old girl said some older pupils on the school bus had been using racist words.
Other incidents have included Bushera Ahmad, a disabled grandmother, alleging she was called a “lying, thieving P**i” by a ticket inspector, who also confiscated her pass, while on a service between Oxford and Reading in 2019.
Harmander Singh, a social policy expert who regularly travels on buses, said generally society is becoming less safe.
He told Eastern Eye: “Bus drivers have a safety screen for their own protection, it’s too unsafe [for them] to get involved.
“It can be difficult to tell if the child is of school age if they are not wearing their uniform or are in sixth form.
“And some kids say ‘I have lost my pass’ to take advantage of it. I see people trying it on.
“It needs a bodily presence, someone whose job is to protect, or we are fighting a losing battle. CCTV cameras don’t stop crime, they just record it.”
Meanwhile, the London TravelWatch group has called for transport chiefs to scrap planned cuts to the night bus service that would mean one in five passengers having to change buses to get home.
Emma Gibson, the group’s chief executive, said: “Some night buses only run every 30 minutes. So, if you have to change buses, in some cases at a completely different bus stop, it raises huge concerns around personal safety.
“Many of the bus stops that we visited didn’t have a shelter or a countdown screen telling you when your next bus will be coming, which only increases feelings of vulnerability in the middle of the night.”
Gibson added: “Women and girls, older and disabled people and people of colour told us that they feel especially vulnerable when travelling at night.
“And, with Londoners on lower incomes relying on the bus the most, taking an Uber instead just isn’t an option.”
Transport for London says drivers are told to let pupils on board if they appear vulnerable and distressed. British Transport Police said it does not police buses.