Travel Dundee Bus Crime

Travel Dundee is pleased to report today a further drop in crime and anti-social behaviour across the company's bus network.

- Through the award-winning Safer Travel partnership, Travel Dundee has recorded only 2 reported staff assaults in 2006, a drop of 6 assaults on 2005's figure of 8. A MASSIVE REDUCTION OF 75%

- 2006 has also seen 61 windows either smashed or damaged on Travel Dundee's buses in various parts of the city - this represents a slight increase on 2005 (51 windows) but shows a great reduction on 2004's figure of 167 broken windows. But the trend is still falling.

Stuart Henry, Corporate Affairs Manager for Travel Dundee said today; "The Safer Travel partnership is now moving into its 5th year in Dundee and our work with Tayside Police remains of huge importance. We are pleased to see a dramatic reduction in assaults against our bus staff in 2006 as our drivers have the right to work in a safe environment, without any fear or intimidation. We believe that our investment in new CCTV systems, and more importantly, the use of the evidence that our CCTV produces, has played a vital role in this reduction - along with the professionalism of our drivers.

"As a major and respected bus operator in the local community, we also welcome the recent announcement by the Deputy Justice Minister to give further resources and measures to the police and local authorities to crack down further on anti-social behaviour across Scotland. This will enable a greater focus on a deterring incidents in the first instance and looking at further ways to tackle anti-social behaviour issues caused by the minority. On-the-spot fines are an important element of the plans."

Mr Henry added; "We remain pleased to be operating such a low crime bus network but we are determined to integrate ourselves further into the policing agenda to ensure the network remains one of the safest in the UK. Comparing Tayside to the West Midlands, where we spent over ﾣ1.4 million on vandalism costs in 2006, shows how far we've come in working in partnership with Tayside Police, and indeed with Dundee City Council on important projects such as the SmartBus initiative."

- Travel Dundee has over 500 CCTV cameras covering its vehicles
- 100% of Travel Dundee's buses are covered with CCTV

Published 15th February 2007