Bournemouth buses scheme aims to tackle antisocial behaviour

The Transport Safety Officers will have some police powers

Officers with limited police powers are being deployed on buses and at travel hubs in a pilot scheme to combat antisocial behaviour.

Transport safety officers (TSOs) will patrol the transport network in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The conurbation is one of four areas selected for the pilot, with the council receiving a £480,000 government grant to recruit and train new TSOs.

The TSOs will work with Dorset Police and have "targeted" police powers.

Bus staff and passengers can text a special number if they spot antisocial behaviour or feel unsafe.

The specially trained officers are being introduced in a partnership between Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and Morebus.

The council is also upgrading hundreds of bus shelters with CCTV cameras, as well as installing surveillance technology at Bournemouth and Boscombe interchanges, and at Poole Bus Station, funded by a separate £8.9m government grant.

Morebus general manager Richard Wade said: "The vast majority of our existing customers are really nice people.

"A small element need a little reminder how to behave around others.

"Our drivers are our eyes and ears and are already feeding information to TSOs with when and where they can be most effective."

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