…Researched and contributed by Lola Smith.
Newport Bus has threatened to remove services from an area of the city following an incident where objects were reportedly thrown at one of its buses.
The incident, which occurred near the Ringland Centre on Wednesday, April 19, caused damage to the vehicle, including a shattered window.
Gwent Police is investigating the incident as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.
Vandalism threatens bus services Newport Bus, which recorded 11 incidents of vandalism to its vehicles requiring repairs in 2022, has warned that it may remove services from affected areas if the damage continues.
The company is in the process of providing CCTV images of the incident to the police.
All Newport Bus vehicles are fitted with internal and external CCTV, and the company works closely with the police to provide evidence if required.
Costs of vandalism Although no members of the public were injured in the incident, Newport Bus said that the damage caused was equivalent to 550 single tickets, which will cost around £1,100 to repair.
The company will cover the cost of the damage.
Police investigation Gwent Police has called on anyone with information about the incident to contact them.
The neighbourhood inspector for Newport east, Roland Giles, said that such behaviour was “unacceptable” and that the safety of others should not be put in jeopardy.
He urged anyone with concerns about anti-social or troublesome behaviour in their local area to call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Vandalism and public transport Vandalism to public transport is a serious issue, causing financial loss to transport companies, and disrupting services for passengers.
If the situation escalates, transport companies may need to consider curtailing or re-routing services for the safety of their passengers and staff.
The police and the public have a role to play in preventing vandalism by reporting any incidents they witness or have information about.
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