Bus drivers trained to protect female passengers

A bus operator has introduced training to teach drivers how to prevent violence against female passengers.

The course will be delivered to drivers of Stagecoach East which operates in parts of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough.

Over the next year drivers will receive training on how to "recognise and react to dangerous situations" and techniques on how to combat the threats without increasing risk to passengers and themselves.

Darren Roe, managing director of Stagecoach East, said: "Tackling violence against women and girls is something that we all need to take responsibility for and we are working very hard to play our part in this."

The training allows drivers to pull over if they believe a female passenger fears abuse and she can then be taken to a safe place along the route if needed.

The firm said the full day's training was in addition to existing safeguarding procedures, such as CCTV cameras on every bus.

They have previously been trained to recognise if someone may be in danger on the street and staff have been authorised to pull over and ask if they need help.

Roe said: "We have no silver bullet and we cannot solve every problem, but we have the desire and the determination to play our part.

"Over time our drivers will become ever more confident with what we are asking of them. "

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