ShelterWatch - a campaign to stamp out anti-social behaviour in bus and tram shelters - is being unveiled by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) on Monday 15 October.
The scheme encourages local people to report incidents, including vandalism and graffiti, to Traveline on 01709 51 51 51 or online at travelsouthyorkshire.com in a bid to help keep their shelter ‘crime free’. Incidents can be reported anonymously.
The information will then be sent to South Yorkshire Police and local authorities who will use it in the prevention and detection of crime.
David Brown, Passenger Services Director at SYPTE said: “Although incidents of this nature are rare, some people do act unsociably and this ruins it for everyone else. Each year a lot of money is spent repairing damage to shelters and we believe by engaging the local community we will be able to stamp out this problem once and for all. We hope people get involved in the campaign and that public transport continues to be a safe environment.”
The scheme is being supported by South Yorkshire Police and Neighbourhood Watch and it is being launched to coincide with the darker nights - when historically some young people have used shelters as meeting places.
Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Transport and Streetscene at Sheffield City Council, said: "The scheme aims to get communities to 'Stand Together' against anti-social behaviour. We want to ensure that not only do people feel safer when travelling but that they have the support networks to report incidents without putting themselves at risk."
Chief Inspector Rachel Barber from South Yorkshire Police said: “We are aware from passengers and transport operators that some youths use bus and tram shelters as meeting places, especially during winter months, and this can be off-putting to passengers.
“We are taking anti-social behaviour and criminal damage extremely seriously and we will take a robust and positive approach to anyone who does engage in this type of behaviour. Neighbourhood Watch has proved to be a very successful scheme and we hope to extend the principles of this onto public transport.”
ShelterWatch is just one of the schemes being carried out by SYPTE to enhance the safety of public transport and encourage more people to use it. Other initiatives include improved shelter design and fitting CCTV in shelters.
To ensure the message gets to young people and to explain the consequences of this type of behaviour, SYPTE are outlining the initiative during visits to over 200 schools in the region.
To report an incident call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51 or visit travelsouthyorkshire.com