Media Centre

Further Birmingham bus smokers prosecuted

08 Feb 2008

As part of their award-winning Safer Travel initiative, National Express West Midlands (formally Travel West Midlands) is pleased to announce that the Company has successfully prosecuted seven nuisance bus passengers who have been identified smoking on bus services in Birmingham.

The seven youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty at Birmingham Youth Court on Tuesday 29 January and each were fined between £25.00 and £50.00 and ordered to pay costs totalling almost £400.00. The seven prosecutions follow the prosecution of 19 adult bus passengers in January – bringing the total number of people found guilty of smoking on National Express buses so far this year to 26.

Alex Perry, Midlands Director at National Express said; “We’re extremely pleased to have instigated yet more prosecutions against people who smoke on our buses, people who show a disregard not only for public transport legislation, but also for the new no smoking laws here in England. We hope that these latest prosecutions will deter other passengers from smoking on our buses and send another strong message that we are constantly taking action.”

Mr Perry added; “We’ve identified and successfully brought action against 26 smokers so far this year and believe that this highlights our commitment to tackling those people who have a total disregard for other passengers and the law. We’ll continue to identify this via our staff and our sophisticated CCTV systems.”

These latest prosecutions are part of a serious drive through the Company’s Safer Travel initiative – a successful partnership which aims not only to deter and detect crime on the bus network, but to make bus customers feel safe whilst they travel.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

• National Express West Midlands have almost 5,000 CCTV cameras on their buses. This includes the latest digital CCTV systems supplied by Wayfarer which help give clear and concise images.
• The Safer Travel partnership is now into its 8th year and is continuing to lead the bus industry in terms of innovation, results and delivery.
• Travel West Midlands was re-branded National Express West Midlands in February 2008 as part of the integration and new brand development by National Express Group in the UK.
• National Express West Midlands will be continuing to work with Birmingham City Council’s Environmental Crime Unit who in turn will be sharing information with Smokefree UK – the administrators responsible for issuing legislative fines.
• The official National Express website can be accessed via www.nationalexpress.com

For further information, please contact:

Stuart Henry, Media Manager (National Express UK Bus & Coach) 07920 781 452