A SCHEME devised to counter intimidation and fighting on school buses has been rewarded for its success.

The ‘this bus is not a youth club’ project, run by Hillingdon Safer Transport Team (STT), was given a bronze award at the seventh annual Problem Orientated Partnerships awards at New Scotland Yard on June 18.

Early in 2010 there were a number of complaints by both bus drivers and members of the public after being caught up in acts of anti-social behaviour on routes 697 and 698, operated by London United, which serve a number of schools in the borough.

Complaints from pupils themselves included intimidation, overcrowding and fighting.

Hillingdon STT worked with London United bus drivers and schools to identify the ringleaders causing trouble, and those who seemed to view the bus as a place in which they could do as they pleased – hence the project’s title.

By February 2011 officers had sent out 60 letters notifying the ringleaders that their behaviour had been noted. These were followed by two second warning letters and then referrals. As a result, between September 2011 and February 2012 only six warning letters were issued, compared with 33 during the same period in 2010/11.

Sergeant David Turner of Hillingdon STT said: “It’s fantastic that our efforts and that of our partners have received such recognition.

“This award will only serve to encourage my team to strive for even greater success in policing the transport network next year.”

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