Dublin Bus adds onboard security after rise in incidents

Dublin Bus launched a new programme to combat anti-social behaviour onboard its services on October 7^th. 

The scheme, known as the Safer Journey Team, is a 20-week trial that will see the deployment of two mobile security teams operating on services around the city. 

One team will operate on the northside of Dublin while the other will operate southside. 

They will be in action between 2pm and 2am from Sunday to Thursday, and 4pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday. 

In August, Dublin Bus reported 83 incidents of anti-social behaviour on their services bringing the total number of incidents so far this year to 659. 

Dublin Bus says that incidents onboard have doubled since 2019. 

The operator of most inner-city travel within Dublin, Dublin Bus says it worked with An Garda Síochána to address concerns. 

“The rise in incidents underscores the need for additional measures to ensure customers and employees feel safe when using the bus,” the company said in its press release. 

The Safer Journeys Team is to be deployed in areas that were identified based on feedback and data analysis. 

CEO of Dublin Bus, Billy Hann, said in their statement that, “the team will provide a visible and reassuring presence for both our customers and employees, actively enhancing safety and security across our network.” 

Reports of anti-social behaviour aboard rail and bus services has grown in recent years, however, speaking at the launch of the programme, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan ruled out a dedicated Public Transport Police. 

“I believe An Garda Síochána are the right people to police our public transport system as well as others,” Minister Ryan said. 

“But it’s also very good when public transport operators, as Dublin Bus are doing today, supplement that, putting extra services on so that people feel safe, feel secure,” he added. 

“We see it working on the Luas, we see it working on the rail, I’m very glad that Dublin Bus are adding their own additional services to complement what the guards can do,” he said.