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Gateway Checks
Operation Buswatch
Gateway checks are undertaken in partnership with schools, Lancashire Constabulary and bus operators, under the Operation Buswatch banner. The checks aim to deter and detect crime, vandalism, graffiti and anti-social behaviour on our buses and have made significant improvements to the safety and security of the bus network.
The checks are performed on both dedicated school bus services and those that are open to the general public.
In Lancashire, the Safer Travel Unit deploys undercover officers to travel on commercial bus services as a normal member of the public would. Once the bus service arrives at the 'Gateway Check' site, the Police board the vehicle with a Revenue Protection Team (Bus Operator) and Safer Travel Unit staff.
A 'partnership' message is provided to customers on the bus, explaining that the check is taking place to deter and detect crime, vandalism, graffiti and anti-social behaviour. At this stage the undercover officer is asked to identify those who may have been involved in any of the above. If persons are identified they are dealt with by our Police colleagues.
What are we looking for?
- Any criminal act
- Persons wanted on warrant
- Music from mobile devices (that can be heard by other customers)
- Placing feet on seats
- Bullying
- Throwing missiles
- Litter
- Smoking
- Shouting
- Fare evasion
What do you need to do?
That's the easy bit! Remember, show your bus pass clearly and/or pay your fare, take your ticket from the driver and retain it for inspection during your journey. Take your seat, don’t move around the bus, don’t lean on windows, don’t behave irresponsibly and don’t smoke; leave the bus taking your litter with you.
Good Practice in Tackling Bus-Related Crime
Case study 1:
Merseyside
Operation Bream in Merseyside was a pilot for high visibility policing on a bus route in April/ May 2002.
An evaluation revealed that arrest rates were 3 to 5 times higher during the operation. 325 stop and searches (of passengers without a valid ticket) were carried out, 18% of which resulted in an arrest.
Of these, 28% were for possession of illegal drugs, 17% for theft, 7% for public disorder offences, and 8% for burglary, assault or robbery.
Case study 2:
West Midlands
'Gateway Checks' are joint operations that demonstrate a unified police and revenue inspector presence on the West Midlands bus network.
There were 171 'Gateway Checks' in 2003, with over 750,000 passengers checked, resulting in 255 arrests for 'other offences', including shoplifting, carrying offensive weapons, and drug dealing.
It has been estimated that the average cost of a 'Gateway Check' with 6 police officers, 6 revenue inspectors and a vehicle is £1,410.
Case study 3:
London
The Transport Operational Command Unit is a partnership between Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police. Revenue Protection Inspectors board buses to inspect tickets.
If a passenger fails to produce a ticket and refuses to give their name and address, the police are called and the passenger is taken to a police station for fingerprinting and searching.
In the course of 7.5 million passenger checks in 2003/04, over 13,500 penalty fares and 35,000 notices for prosecution were issued (including for theft, deception, handling stolen goods, disorderly behaviour, and drug offences).
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