BUS shelters across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been 'upgraded’ in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour and make travelling by bus a 'safer option'.
More than 150 bus shelters across the conurbation have had CCTV cameras installed.
Poole Bus Station has also benefitted from additional CCTV equipment, some of which has been built into 14 new electronic passenger information displays that provide passengers with up to the minute departure information in addition to the monitoring.
BCP Council, in partnership with local bus operators, was one of 16 areas awarded funding over a three-year period from 2022, receiving £8.9 million to improve bus services.
The findings from a previous consultation revealed the need for this enhanced monitoring, alongside a uniformed presence on the buses.
The cameras are covering the busiest bus stops across the conurbation as well as the main boarding areas of the bus station.
High-definition footage is live streamed direct to the council’s CCTV control room, whilst continuous recording will help identify anti-social behaviour (ASB) offenders and aid prosecution.
BCP Council said the cameras will provide greater security for waiting passengers and act as a deterrent for ASB, with people able to text a special 81018 number if they spot any incidents or feel vulnerable while using the bus network.
A further 100 locations are being added in the coming months.
Transport safety officers were introduced earlier this year to travel across key routes on the bus and rail network, interacting with people and dealing with any incidents of ASB as part of this wider scheme.
Councillor Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy at BCP Council, said: “We are working closely with our local bus operators to significantly improve bus services across the BCP area.
"Our residents want to feel safe when they travel, and these new CCTV cameras will hopefully encourage more people to leave their cars at home and take a sustainable option instead, which has the added bonus of reducing traffic congestion on our roads.”
Andrew Wickham, managing director at Morebus, said: “We want those travelling with us to feel safe and comfortable whilst on-board, at bus shelters and at Poole Bus Station.
"The bus stop cameras and state-of-the-art equipment installed at the bus station - with its dual purpose of providing live departure information and CCTV monitoring - will go a long way to achieving this.
“Our excellent partnership with BCP Council has gone a long way to facilitating these latest additions, and we will continue to work together to achieve our joint aim of easing congestion and improving air quality across the region.”
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