Leeds: Bus passengers welcome new PCSO patrols

A team of PCSOs have been tasked with reducing anti-social behaviour on buses in West Yorkshire

Passengers have welcomed new PCSO patrols aboard West Yorkshire buses in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Fifteen PCSOs have been tasked with increasing the safety of women and girls and helping vulnerable people, West Yorkshire Combined Authority said.

One woman in Leeds said the move would help "put your mind at ease" while travelling alone on the bus network.

The team, which is also monitoring bus stations, will operate for an initial three years.

The scheme has seen £1m of funding from the West Yorkshire Mayor's bus service improvement plan.

"I listen to music just so I don't have to deal with it, so it looks like I'm not involved in any shape or form," said passenger Sam Castle.

"It's unpleasant, there's been quite a few occasions when people have been quite nasty to bus drivers."

Orla Joyce says it would make those travelling alone feel safer on their journeys

Orla Joyce, 31, said: "I've not had a bad experience, but it would put your mind at ease a bit - especially if you're a girl travelling on your own."

Other recently-introduced safety measures include the installation of continuous recorded CCTV at 27 bus stations across the region.

"Even during any time of day I feel there's a lot that goes on, a lot of drunk people or a lot of rowdy people," said Iris, 19.

In August, a bus operator was forced to temporarily stop using a Wakefield bus station due to anti-social behaviour.

Sam Castle says she wears headphones to discourage people from interacting with her

Alison Lowe, the county's deputy mayor, said: "People are telling us they don't always feel safe and so we're listening to the public of West Yorkshire.

"Bus use is down since the pandemic and they're an essential part of the economy here - but we need people to use them safely."

Mobeen Hussain, a PCSO who is part of the new team, said: "We're going to be on different routes every day just to keep the peace.

"If anyone has any issues they can talk to us and we can go from there."