TfL figures show significant rise in anti-social behaviour on buses
Figures obtained by the London Assembly Conservatives from Transport for London Surface Advisory Panel show that the incidents of code red calls made by bus drivers in London specifically due to anti-social behaviour increased from 465 cases in September 2005 to 697 cases in October 2006.
The figures contained within meeting papers are said to confirm that on average from April 2003 to September 2005, drivers made 432 code red calls per month. Following the introduction of free travel for under-16s in September 2005 the average number of code red calls made by drivers per month specifically relating to anti-social behaviour increased to 535 leading to the Conservative's assumption that the rise is caused by school-children.
Commenting on the increase in code red calls Tony Arbour, London Assembly Member for Hounslow said, “These shocking new statistics will come as no surprise to my constituents who regularly contact me about the growing problem of anti-social behaviour on buses.
"The Mayor informs us on a regular basis that the introduction of free travel caused only a minor ‘blip’ in the number of offences committed on the bus network but never mentions how many code red calls are made by drivers due to their experiences of anti-social behaviour.
"These statistics show an upward trend in the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour on the bus network and this is a wholly unacceptable situation that needs to be tackled urgently.”
Local Conservative Members of the London Assembly were forcefully opposing the £55million spent by Mayor Ken Livingstone on free bus travel proposing a US-style school bus system in its place. Prior to the Mayor's budget being passe last month, Angie Bray, Assembly Member and Conservative Candidate for the newly formed Central Ealing and Acton constituency, said "We are proposing a dedicated school bus system across London as the best way of ensuring safe, free travel for pupils getting to and from school."
She continued “We believe it right to provide this free facility but also that it is far better delivered through a dedicated school bus service as this would also help to free up the limited space on buses at peak hours for other members of the travelling public who are facing higher and higher fares. We also believe there is a separate but linked problem on some bus routes where anti-social behaviour has increased from gangs of school children riding the buses well outside school hours. This has been drawn to our attention not only by the police but by other passengers and in some cases by transport workers who have experienced it during their working hours."
The Mayor slammed the plans calling them an “impractical pilot” believing it “impossible to implement in London” and “would deprive families of the advantages of the fares concession at weekends and bank holidays.”
March 6, 2007