Bournemouth, Crime, Motoring & Transport, Poole | Posted on August 14th, 2024 | return to news
Bournemouth and Poole bus shelters get CCTV cameras to tackle crime
Over 150 bus shelters across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been upgraded with new CCTV cameras in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) have installed CCTV cameras in over 150 bus shelters across the area as part of an £8.9 million investment to improve bus services and cut anti-social behaviour (ASB), with plans to add a further 100 locations in the coming months.
BCP Council, in partnership with local bus operators, was one of 16 areas awarded funding towards bus services. The upgrades are part of the conurbation’s Bus Service Improvement Plan to address the need for enhanced monitoring to make travelling by bus a more welcoming and safer option.
As well as CCTV cameras, Poole Bus Station now has 14 new electronic passenger information displays that provide passengers with up to the minute departure information as well as monitoring.
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 ASB offenders and aid prosecution.
The cameras will provide greater security for passengers and act as a deterrent to crime. The Council is urging people to text a special 81018 number if they spot any incidents of ASB or feel vulnerable while using the bus network. Text ‘BCP’ to 81018 with details of the incident including the time, date, location and the route number to let CCTV operators and Transport Safety Officers know.
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. This forms part of our commitment to transform travel by encouraging more people to take environmentally friendly options like the bus or train.
“Reducing anti-social behaviour at Poole Bus Station and at our bus shelters plays an important part in this. 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.”
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