Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of assaults on public transport in Devon.

The Department for Transport is working with industry to ensure that public transport is a safe environment for staff and passengers.

BTP are responsible for policing the railway, and they deploy their officers across the network, including in Devon, based on intelligence led briefings with daily taskings to provide reassurance to the public. BTP regularly carry out joint operations with Devon and Cornwall Police under Operation Servator which includes high visibility patrols at key railway infrastructure locations and known incident hotspots.

Through the Bus Services (No.2) Bill, we propose to mandate training for staff working in the bus industry, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public, on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport. We intend to make clear that training will require a person to take steps to prevent crime or anti-social behaviour only where it is safe to do so.