PRESS RELEASE

 

IF YOU THINK YOU’VE GOT AWAY WITH IT, THINK AGAIN

 

Working in partnership with London’s bus companies and Transport for London the Transport OCU’s BusTag team is identifying and arresting those recorded on CCTV committing criminal damage on buses which costs in excess of £8 Million pounds a year Those responsible believe they are faceless and can evade justice, but BusTag’s results to date prove how wrong they are. 

 

One 14-year-old youth has pleaded guilty to nineteen counts of criminal damage, which equals nearly £12,000 worth of damage whilst another individual has been found guilty, after a three-day trial at a Crown Court, of “Arson with endangerment to life”. He has been remanded in custody awaiting sentence and will appear at the Crown Court in November for sentencing, pending a psychiatric report.

 

The BusTag team work alongside colleagues with local knowledge such as ‘Safer Schools’ and  ‘Safer Neighbourhoods’ teams in order to track down those responsible.

 

 

Chief Superintendent Mike Humphrey, in charge of the Transport Operational Command Unit, said:

 

“We are very grateful to local newspapers which have been so supportive of our campaign and we are very happy to continue working with them, on a regular basis. The publication of images in local newspapers enables us to identify offenders in their area, who we will arrest and prosecute. Some of those committing these offences believe that they can never be tracked down, but thanks to extensive newspaper coverage and the hard work of the BusTag team this is certainly not the case. If crimes such as these are not tackled it is everyone who suffers.”

 

Jeroen Weimar, TfL’s Director of Transport Policing and Enforcement said:

 

 “Transport for London is committed to providing a safe, secure and pleasant travelling environment for all our passengers and staff.  Through Operation BusTag we are working closely with local transport operators, the Metropolitan Police and other agencies to crack down on graffiti and etching on London’s public transport system. 

 

“Graffiti causes disruption, creates fear and incurs substantial costs that would be better invested improving the transport network.  Together we can tackle this problem and ensure a safer and more reliable journey for all.”

 

The number to call

 

We are most anxious to contact those people shown in the CCTV images because we believe they can help us with our enquiries about criminal damage which has been committed on buses.

 

If anyone believes they can identify any of those people they can contact us anonymously on the following telephone numbers:

 

 

OPERATION BUSTAG            Tel: ( 020 ) 7027-8950

 

 

CRIMESTOPPERS                  Tel:  0800 555 111

 

 

 

OPERATION BUSTAG FILM

 

The Transport OCU has recently made a film for distribution to all of London’s secondary schools. It has been sent to all the MPS’ Safer Schools Officers and Safer Neighbourhoods Officers, who will distribute the film to local schools.