Cops begin bus and Tube patrols to tackle Guy Fawkes violence

04 November 2009

By Mike Brooke

POLICE are carrying out 'targeted patrols' on London's buses and Underground to tackle a 'seasonal peak' in violence, crime and yob behaviour around Bonfire Night.

Scotland Yard's Transport Command is running a four-week operation with Transport for London to cope with an expected surge in Guy Fawkes Night anti-social behaviour.

A four-week 'Safe Bus' operation involves 'high visibility' patrols on buses and Underground trains to deal with trouble-makers and reassure passengers.

"Anti-social and criminal behaviour on our transport network is not acceptable," said London Mayor Boris Johnson. "Operations like 'Safe Bus' send out a message that we'll deal with anti-social or dangerous behaviour."

The operation runs until November 15 across all 32 London boroughs, with patrols on buses and trains as well as metal-detecting 'arches' set up at budy station ticket-barriers and at school gates looking for knives.

Bus crime shoots up 20 per cent in October and November compared to the quieter months of August and September, with crime falling again in December. Robberies rose in this period last year by 125, compared to the same period the year before.