Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements there are for the drivers of public service vehicles to report unruly passengers to their depots and to the police at the time when a disturbance is taking place; whether there are any restrictions on how drivers communicate this; and what requirements there are to provide drivers with the equipment to enable them to do this.

Bus/Coach crews have a duty of care towards their passengers under Section 5(1) of the Public Services Vehicles (Conduct) Regulations 1990. This section states that a driver and/or a conductor shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of passengers, who are on, or are boarding or alighting from the vehicle. Internal operator safety procedures, including provision of equipment is a matter for individual operators.

The transport industry, local authorities, the police and others are already investing in and undertaking wide-ranging initiatives to improve the personal security of public transport passengers and staff and to keep our public transport systems as low crime environments.