Police have released CCTV images of people they want to speak to regarding five incidents of vandalism on buses in the last 13 months.

In the most serious, a man threatened the driver of the number 29 bus in Staines Road, Feltham, before smashing his protective screen.

The thug, who appeared to be drunk, became aggressive after he was asked to stop drinking on February 18, at about 7.20pm. He began shouting and swearing in front of other passengers and, after the driver made an emergency call, punched the screen.

The other four incidents, which took place between March 13 this year and February 13, 2008, all relate to graffiti or passengers etching on windows.

The images were released as part of Operation BusTag, which was set up by the Met Police, Transport for London and bus companies to crack down on rogue passengers.

Since being established in November 2004, it has tripled the number of people being arrested for criminal damage, from graffiti to arson, which costs bus firms millions of pounds every year.

More than 2,500 people have been arrested during that time, often leading to heavy fines or prison sentences.

Chief Superintendent Joe Royle, of Transport Operational Command Unit, which runs Operation BusTag, said: “These people may think they have got away with it. They are wrong.

“We are determined that all offenders of bus criminal damage are brought to justice and we will leave no stone unturned in our endeavour to do so.”

Steve Burton, TfL’s director of community safety, enforcement and policing, said: “Graffiti and vandalism on London’s buses creates an intimidating atmosphere which our passengers should not have to put up with.”

Meet the bus vandals - see page 2

incident: W95
Bus driver common assault and door glass smashed
Route 29
February 18, 2009
Staines Rd, Feltham
7.20pm

incident: 13218
Graffiti
Route 267
March 13, 2009
Boards Brentford Leisure Centre, 4.56pm
Alights Chiswick High Road, 5.05pm

incident: 14105
Etching
Route 235
July 3, 2008
Boards Grove Road, Hounslow, 12.49pm
Alights Brentford High Street, 1.05pm

incident: 13854
Etching
Route 111
May 19, 2008
Boards Bath Road, Cranford, 9.55am
Alights Hampton Court Green, 1046am

incident: 209
Graffiti
Route 120
February 13, 2008
Boards Bell Road, Hounslow, 9.34pm
Alights Mandeville Road, Northolt, 10.17pm

Anyone with information is asked to call Operation BusTag on 020 7027 8950 or Crimestoppers, free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.