'Trojan Bus' will slam brakes on anti-social antics

NORTHUMBRIA Police have announced the deployment of their “Trojan Bus”, a decoy bus staffed with plain clothes police officers, in North Northumberland.

- OLIVIA SHEED

This initiative is part of the Safer Streets Initiative, which aims to address hotspots of antisocial behaviour (ASB) at their source.

The bus's route varies based on complaints from local residents or public transport users.

Recently, the Trojan Bus was sent to Alnwick following feedback from Operation Impact, a multi-agency day of action that took place in the town on September 3.

This operation resulted from multiple complaints regarding antisocial behaviour in the town's bus station.

This innovative policing strategy allows officers to board what seems to be a regular bus service, which is actually a disguised service designed to identify ASB offenders at bus stops and stations.

The presence of the bus helps deter people from engaging in antisocial behaviour.