NORTHUMBRIA Police’s ‘Trojan’ bus – a decoy bus where the passengers are plain clothes police officers – has been back on the beat, as part of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative, helping officers take tough action at anti-social behaviour hotspots.
The innovative policing tactic sees officers on board what appears to be a regular bus service, but it is in fact a staged service on route to pick up anti-social behaviour (ASB) offenders at bus stops and stations and helps officers make any necessary arrests.
Northumbria Police’s decoy bus is in conjunction with Stagecoach, and the initiative uses additional funding as part of Commissioner Susan Dungworth’s Project Shield, which was launched a year ago and has helped achieve a 19 per cent reduction in ASB in targeted areas.
Project Shield is part of joint activity from police and partners working to keep town centres across the force area safe this summer. As well as the Trojan Bus, the project involves increased visible patrols, proactive policing, and community engagement to improve feelings of safety and reduce crime.
Previously the initiative has run in the winter months, and so this is the first time it’s being rolled out in the summer season. Warmer weather and longer daylight hours often encourage more people to gather in public spaces – parks, streets, town centres, transport hubs – where ASB is more likely to occur.
The destination of the bus varies, as it is dispatched as a direct response following complaints from local residents or public transport users. Current deployments are covering South Tyneside and Sunderland.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commission, Susan Dungworth, said: “It’s really important we take people’s concerns around ASB seriously and that is why I made it a priority in my Police and Crime Plan.
“Through Project Shield, The Trojan bus tactic is one of many strategies being used by officers to tackle ASB. It shows we are listening and trying a range of methods to catch those responsible and put a stop to behaviours that people understandably have had enough of in their area.
“Throwing stones at vehicles, vandalising bus stops or riding motorbikes on pedestrian pathways – it’s all unacceptable and those responsible need to watch their backs as the trojan bus could be pulling up to their street at any time.
Susan continued: “During the summer months when it’s warmer and the nights are lighter, we know more people are out and about in our town centres and this always leads to higher levels of both daytime and nighttime ASB and crime.
“And so, we have been coming together with our partners like our councils and Stagecoach, so we can get ahead of problems. We hope all the work that’s happening will help prevent or deter crime, whilst also improving overall feelings of safety.
“Why the bus works is it brings an element of surprise, capturing more authentic behaviour and this means our officers can intervene and can take appropriate action. We know people want to see a visible policing presence, but I want residents to know about other policing that are less visible but can still make an impact towards delivering safer streets and stronger communities.”
Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:
“Anti-social behaviour brings misery to local residents which is one of the reasons we launched the Safer Streets Summer Initiative to get more police out in local areas tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Northumbria Police’s Trojan Bus is a brilliant example of how bespoke local tactics are being used up and down the country to make a real difference to communities, alongside the nationwide effort to put more police officers back on the beat and increase visible patrols.
“With every force now providing a named, contactable officer in every neighbourhood, and thousands of police and community support officers returning to our streets in the coming year, we’re sending a clear message: anti-social behaviour and crime will not be tolerated. This isn’t just about enforcement—it’s about rebuilding trust and pride in our communities, and making our streets safer for everyone.”
Chief Inspector Phil Baker, of Northumbria Police, said: “As a Force, we fully recognise the anti-social behaviour of a minority of people can have a significant and detrimental impact on the communities we serve.
“ASB is not a victimless crime – and nobody should have to put up with it on their doorstep, or face issues when using the wider transport network in the region.
“The Trojan bus has previously been run in the winter, but we know that the warmer weather and lighter nights during summer often means an increase in ASB and disorder, with more people out and about at our transport hubs.
“Policing in this way gives us a unique opportunity to identify those behaving in an anti-social or criminal way in real time – helping us to disrupt offenders swiftly and take appropriate action against those involved.
“Ultimately, we are using the Trojan bus as a way to fight crime as its happening, prevent further disorder – ensuring that all passengers and residents feel safe when using public transport.
“Together, alongside our partners, we will continue to use every tactic at our disposal to tackle these forms of criminality and ensure our communities remain as safe as they can be.”
Stagecoach North East Managing Director, Steve Walker, said: “Our buses are a safe, convenient, cost-effective and sustainable way to travel and we’re committed to working alongside our partners to ensure they remain that way. Through initiatives such as the Trojan Bus, we want to make it clear that any kind of antisocial behaviour will simply not be tolerated.”
Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “Residents consistently tell us that anti-social behaviour is one of their top concerns, and we’re responding with our partners to tackle disorder head-on. The Trojan Bus is just one of the innovative tactics being used to make our streets safer and send a clear message that ASB will not be tolerated.”
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