LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct

SECURITY GUARDS HAVE begun working on Dublin Bus buses today, in a pilot scheme aming to tackle anti-social behaviour. 

“This is a key step in our commitment to making every journey on Dublin Bus a safer journey,” said Dublin Bus CEO Billy Hann. 

Hann told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland programme that the number of anti-social behaviour reported had doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Before the pandemic, we’d about 500 incidents of antisocial behaviour. In 2023, which was our first full year post pandemic, it was up to over 1000 incidents,” he said.

“So between that data, feedback from employees, feedback from customers, we felt it was a good time to actually launch this initiative.”

The 20-week pilot scheme will see two units of security personnel working on board buses in the capital – one on the north side and one on the south side. 

They will operate daily from 2pm to 2am from Sunday to Thursday and 4pm to 4am, Fridays and Saturdays.

Today, I am pleased to announce the launch of the @dublinbusnews Safer Journeys Team—a new initiative that introduces a visible, approachable security presence on our services. This is a key step in our commitment to making every journey on Dublin Bus a safer journey.

(1/4) pic.twitter.com/lTl1TDh0lp

— Billy Hann (@CEO_DublinBus) October 7, 2024

Hann said the mobile units will have three main functions.

“The first function will be roaming across our bus network, dealing with any anti-social behaviour instances that our customers or that our employees are actually experiencing at any given time.

“They’ll also be assisting with our revenue protection unit, with regards to fare evasion. And then the third aspect of their job will be to assist Dublin Bus employees with crowd control, particularly on our nighttime services on Friday and Saturday evenings.”

Asked if the security guards will be directly intervening to stop anti-social behaviour, Hann said: “It’ll be very much a de-escalation type of role.”

“So if there’s any issues with regards to anti-social behavior, their first role will be to de-escalate that situation. But they’ll be standing in the background, being visible, not getting involved in the operation at all until it’s absolutely necessary.”

In a case where attempts at de-escalation fail, “then they’ll use whatever means are necessary, reasonable force to remove that person from the bus”.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan today said he “looked at real length” at the establishment of a dedicated transport police.

“I met the unions who were proposing it, but I believe An Garda Síochána are the right people to police our transport systems, as well as others,” said Ryan.

“But it’s also very good when public transport operators, as Dublin Bus are doing, compliment and supplement that so that people feel safe and secure.”

He said this model works and that the “really fast, close contact with the guards is a critical part of that”.

When asked if the scheme could be scaled up in the future, Ryan said that is an “operational matter for Dublin Bus”.

He added that there are “a lot of security measures at present” and “very significant camera enforcement both inside and outside the busses”.

“So anyone misbehaving on a bus is going to face the consequences,” said Ryan.

The Transport Minister also remarked that “what really works as well is community policing”.

“When we have had difficulties in the past, what really stops it is when we work with local community guards and local community leaders, including councillors – that when we do have a problem, it’s that bottom up, grassroots public transport for everyone.

“You’re not going to deny a community of service by all that behaviour and I think that’s key part of the solution as well.”

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil senator Mary Fitzpatrick said the move by Dublin Bus is a “critical step in making our public transport system safer for everyone”.

“This initiative is not only about ensuring personal safety but also about restoring public confidence in the safety of Dublin’s public transport system,” said Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick added that she “looks forward to seeing the positive impact this pilot will have on safety, security, and ultimately, public confidence in our transport network”.