'Trojan horse' bus tackles anti-social behaviour

The bus looks like a normal service

One person was arrested and 29 others issued with dispersal notices in a week-long trial of "Trojan horse" bus services aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour.

Undercover Northumbria Police officers acted as passengers on special Stagecoach buses in South Shields, South Tyneside, before Christmas.

The service has been trialled in areas were commuters have reported anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and youth disorder.

Ch Supt Barrie Joisce said "the anti-social behaviour of a minority can have a significant and detrimental impact" on communities.

The Trojan bus was an "innovative" way to tackle disorder while it was happening, Ch Supt Joisce said.

“We’re seeing some great results which I hope will go a long way to help passengers and residents alike to feel safe," he added.

Offenders can be issued with notices that keep them away from the area

The bus works like a normal service, running to the usual stops.

Undercover officers monitor the behaviour of passengers and arrest offenders or issue dispersal notices, which prevent them returning to the area for a set period of time.

If they do return, they can be arrested.

Parents have been warned children between the ages of 10 and 16 who are issued with dispersal notices will be taken home.

Undercover police have travelled as passengers

Northumbria police and crime commissioner (PCC) Kim McGuinness said she planned to "get the bus out as often as we can and break up bad behaviour and improve people’s feelings of safety".

She said: "Officers can’t give too much away but the idea is it could pull up anywhere, anytime - packed with police passengers ready to take action.”

The bus’ first deployment centred on North Marine Park and South Shields Interchange.

The project involves a number of agencies including Northumbria Police, Stagecoach, Metro operator Nexus, the PCC and local authorities.

The plan is to roll it out across the region in the coming months.