Security increased at vandalism-hit bus station

Security is to be increased at a city's main bus station in an effort to tackle anti-social behaviour, an MP has said.

The action comes following incidents of vandalism and reports from passengers who said they felt unsafe using Wakefield Bus Station.

The initiative would involve police and station security staff working in partnership to provide a visible deterrent to criminals and reassurance to station users and staff, according to Simon Lightwood MP.

Lightwood, Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell and minister for local transport, said disabled passengers had been unable to access toilets at the site following vandalism, adding that "everybody should feel safe using Wakefield Bus Station".

"It's the gateway for people to visit our city centre, spend money in our local businesses and visit local attractions," he said.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lightwood said the government had made tackling anti-social behaviour and crime a top priority.

"That includes making sure our public transport networks and transport hubs are safe for everyone to use."

Insp Paul Fraser, of Wakefield central neighbourhood policing team, said the action at the bus station was part of measures being put in place to reduce crime across the city centre.

Police and Wakefield Council had set up a new anti-social behaviour task force in a bid to increase visitor numbers which had involved additional city centre neighbourhood police and council enforcement officer patrols, he said.

Plans were also in place to review public space protection orders so more powers could be available to tackle aggressive begging, substance misuse and anti-social gatherings.

Matthew Morley, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for planning and highways, said the increased prescence at the bus station would "help deter crime and anti-social behaviour in and around one of our major travel hubs".

"That's why this new regular contact point sits alongside work our new Wakefield city anti-social behaviour task force is doing to crackdown on issues affecting people in our city centre," he said.

Richard Hoare, area director for bus operator Arriva, said the firm would continue to work with police and the MP to help make the bus station a more "welcoming and safer place".

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