Stagecoach bus drivers in South Holland are being trained to recognise signs of domestic abuse.
It’s teamed up with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Police Authority, and the Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Centre to join the Businesses Against Abuse (BAA) scheme.
Drivers are being trained to recognise people who are in vulnerable situations either on or off the bus – and are being given guidance in how to offer help.
If a driver recognises that a women or girl may be in fear of abuse on the street, they are authorised to pull over and ask if they need help and then take her to a safe place on route if necessary.
Likewise, if a driver recognises that a passenger is in fear of abuse, they have been given a range of options to help. These are called the ‘5 Ds’ and include delegating, by involving others, distracting, and delaying until it is safe to challenge.
All Stagecoach East buses now display BAA stickers with QR codes by their entrance doors, designating them as safe-spaces and all their buses have multiple cameras, so cases of abuse will be recorded and reported.
Darren Roe, managing director of Stagecoach East, said: “Tackling violence against women and girls is something that we all need to take responsibility for and we are working very hard to play our part in this. I would encourage anyone who is in fear or abuse, either on the bus or if they see a bus, to make themselves known to the driver, who will try to help them.
