Police are appealing for witnesses to an incident which took place on a Route 2 bus between Newport and Ryde.
The incident happened some time between 17:15 and 18:00 on Monday (18th October), at the rear of the top deck on Route 2 bus.
It was reported that a drunk man was making inappropriate comments towards a woman and became threatening and aggressive towards other passengers.
If you were on the bus and witnessed this incident, call 101 quoting 44210419066.
And the driver was where, exactly????????????????? (and yes they do have vision/cctv on the top deck)
Get used to it, as cars are priced off the road for all but the well off, many more will suffer such with public transport in the near future
drivers are not security staff, they are not bouncers, they are not the police and are not expected to wade into anything that may put their own safety at risk.
the driver will make a decision on whether to stop the bus, call the police and wait for them to arrive and remove the passenger or continue with the journey, if the driver knows that he/she is close to the end of the route or that the passenger causing the problem is expected to disembark at the next stop or two – which means the problem walks itself off the bus.
the driver, the victim and southern vectis can then follow up with the police, statements, cctv etc afterwards.
Well said isle of wighter. Your right on every score.. I would bet good money that plato would just sit there and do nothing if the bus driver was being assaulted.
thanks PNM – plato is another armchair do gooder, that somehow thinks that because a person is an employee, that somehow makes them responsible for dealing with situations like this.
public transport staff are there to facilitate transport and nothing else – you don’t see police officers jumping on the number nine bus and driving it, if the driver is off sick – so why should a driver be expected to enforce the law in relation to conduct by a passenger.
I think you’re right that the bus driver isn’t a bouncer. I also think other passengers are afraid to step in as well for safety of themselves.
I’d hope if a young woman/ man or anyone was being assaulted or abused that the bus driver and others would come together to try to stop the situation escalating and call the police at least.
Having young adult kids is a worry when you know they have to use the buses at times. We seem to be at the mercy of yobs and vile people who think they have a right to pick on the more vulnerable and get away with it. Name and shame and show their faces on public media so we can be aware who these disgusting idiots are.
Traditionally, the driver sits behind a wheel getting folk safely to their destinations. They’re not meant to be bouncers.
As ever, the point being made has been missed by the majority of commenters here – the article talks about WITNESSES being required – the bus driver is the prime witness, yet seemingly not good enough? – one wonders why.
Nowhere did I say that he had to “wade in” or be a “bouncer” – obviously not. its a given.
And unlike the majority of the commentators on here I have ACTUAL EXPERIENCE of being a bus driver, in London, a long time ago.