Safer Transport West Yorkshire and Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) officers joined forces to tackle anti-social behaviour and fare-dodging affecting buses in Crossgates, Whinmoor and Temple Newsam.
Police officers and police community support officers from the Crossgates, Whinmoor and Temple Newsam NPT, special constables in plain clothes, and Revenue Inspectors from the local bus companies teamed up as part of a week of action.
Along with speaking to people at bus stops along the route, those involved patrolled hot-spot areas for anti-social behaviour which affect the bus routes and stopped a number of people.
Alcohol and suspected cannabis was seized from two people, and 22 people were reported for fare-dodging. The maximum penalty for fare-dodging is £50.
The week of action was carried out under the banner of Operation Thorndale, Safer Transport West Yorkshire’s initiative to tackle any issues which affect the public transport network across the county, and was launched following a number of incidents of criminal damage caused to buses in the local area and in the wider community.
Safer Transport West Yorkshire is a partnership involving West Yorkshire Police , the independent transport authority Metro and bus companies including Arriva, First Buses, Stagecoach and Transdev.
Sergeant Rachel Claughton, who is the partnership’s dedicated officer, said: “This was the first operation of this nature that we have conducted, and it has been extremely successful with the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour reduced and action taken against fare-dodgers.
“We will be keeping up the pressure on anyone whose behaviour has a negative impact on local bus services for the benefit of everyone who uses them.”
Inspector Tom Harrison, of the Crossgates, Whinmoor and Temple Newsam NPT, said: “We are keen to tackle any issues which are highlighted to us by local residents, and operations like this are a prime example of how willing we are to act on their concerns.”
