CCTV on school buses (From Gazette Series)

CCTV on school buses

SCHOOL buses in the Stroud district have been fitted with CCTV cameras in a bid to eradicate unruly behaviour.

Reports of incidents on the buses have ranged from bullying to road traffic accidents in the most extreme cases.

As reports of the thuggish and anti-social behaviour appear to be increasing, Gloucestershire County Council has now fitted seven cameras on four buses that serve the Stroud Valleys network.

The county council says it has been keen to ensure the safety of all students who use home to school transport.

Andrew Burford, the council's home to school transport co-ordinator, said: "We have been working hard over the past few years to improve the safety on school buses, for children and drivers.

"The majority of routes in the county are free from behavioural issues but there are pockets of trouble on some routes and we are hoping that CCTV cameras will discourage bad behaviour.

"We are piloting the scheme with Ebley Coaches in and around the Stroud Valleys area and we hope to roll it out to routes in the Forest of Dean if it proves a success.

"Other authorities have trialled CCTV with very positive results in combating anti-social behaviour. We are hoping for similar results in Gloucestershire."

The first buses to carry the cameras went into operation on Monday on school runs to Archway, Marling and Stroud High Schools.

The county council intends to equip a further seven buses over the next few weeks in the Forest and South Cotswolds and if the scheme is a success more school buses will be fitted with the equipment across the county.

The total cost to the ten buses with the cameras is £27,000, with some operators matching the county council's contribution.