Bus passengers urged to have a safe and silent night this Christmas

Bus passengers across the West Midlands are being urged to show goodwill to fellow travellers over the festive period and keep Christmas shopping well wrapped up and out of sight.The Safer Travel team, which works to make the region’s bus network even safer for passengers, is encouraging people to act sensibly and not let seasonal good cheer escalate into nuisance behaviour.The Safer Travel team, a partnership between West Midlands Police, Safer Birmingham Partnership, National Express West Midlands, Centro and the British Transport Police, is also advising passengers to keep a close eye on their Christmas shopping and valuables in order to foil any opportunist thieves. Passengers will be able to report any instances of nuisance behaviour anonymously by using the See Something Say Something initiative.Launched in September, See Something Say Something provides bus passengers with an interactive website and text messaging service through which they can anonymously report any incidents they witness, like smoking, feet on seats and the playing of loud music.Details can be given by logging on to www.safertravel.info or by texting information to 07624 818332. Alternatively they can phone West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000.Inspector Dean Hatton, head of the West Midlands Police Safer Travel team, said “We want passengers to enjoy the festive season and be sensible. We’re not trying to spoil the fun but high spirits on the bus can easily become nuisance behaviour. Please respect your fellow passengers and be aware of how your actions might affect others around you. Keep a close eye on your shopping, particularly when the bus is crowded and try to keep valuables out of sight.”Please note: The 'See Something/ Say Something' campaign specifically targets anti-social behaviour like smoking, graffiti, playing loud music, feet on seats, etc. Passengers should still call 999 in an emergency.To report an incident of anti-social behaviour passengers should: log on to www.safertravel.info and fill in the online reporting form. alternatively they can use the National Express West Midlands Safer Travel Textline on 07624 818332 giving details of what happened, the time and place it occurred and the bus service involved. Those who send a text, which is charged at the standard text rate, will get an instant text reply confirming their message has been received. those without access to the internet or texting services can phone West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000 with the details. www.safertravel.info also gives advice for travellers and news about Safer Travel events and the police team’s latest operations. There are also details about the work officers carry out in schools across the region, to educate youngsters about the repercussions and even dangers of anti-social behaviour.Passengers who want to make a report about the actual bus service itself, such as punctuality or a driver’s attitude, should directly contact the bus company concerned and not use the Safer Travel website. For comments, complaints or suggestions about any National Express West Midlands service please use the Contact Us form.   

Published 8th December 2008