Crime in Coventry bus depot halved in 12 months

Crime and anti-social behaviour in Coventry's main bus depot has halved in the past 12 months according to police.

Officers launched Operation Overlap in April 2010 to combat "loutish behaviour" by teenagers hanging around at Pool Meadow Bus Station.

Before the operation began there was an average of 10 offences per month.

But a police spokesman said that figure has fallen to just over five - a 48 per cent decrease.

He added there had been reports of passengers being intimidated and verbally abused and occasional robberies and attacks on bus drivers.

'Concerted clampdown'

Insp Suzanne Baker said: "Visitors to the city were experiencing an unsavoury welcome at the bus depot and we were receiving regular complaints about youths smoking cannabis, drinking alcohol and generally behaving poorly.

"Our operation has involved a concerted clampdown on nuisance groups loitering in the station and it's resulted in crime rates at Pool Meadow falling to their lowest for six years.

"Pool Meadow is now a key part of our patrol strategy and our reassurance work has been complemented by plain-clothed officers on problem bus routes and drugs sniffer dogs."

Total bus-related crime in Coventry has also dropped from 32 to 23 offences per month since the operation started last April - the lowest bus-related crime figure in Coventry since 2005.