Operation BusTag on Hunt for Vandals

CCTV images released in relation to damage on local buses

Operation Bus Tag, the unit responsible for tackling criminal damage on buses has released a number of CCTV images of people they wish to speak to.

Police are most anxious to contact those people shown in the CCTV images because they believe they can help with enquiries.

If anyone believes they can identify any of those people they can make contact anonymously on the following telephone numbers: OPERATION BUSTAG Tel: ( 020 ) 7027-8950. CRIMESTOPPERS Tel: 0800 555 111

The people seen in the photographs used on this page or linked to from this page are not necessarily directly connected with the offences under investigation. Their presence in the photographs may be entirely innocent.

Operation BusTag is a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Investigation Unit set up in November 2004 by the Metropolitan Police Service's Transport Operational Command Unit to tackle criminal damage being committed on London's buses. The MPS Transport Operational Command Unit was set up in 2002 to fight crime on buses, tackle illegal taxi touts; and assist with the control of traffic congestion - there are now more than 1,200 uniformed officers in the unit. The Transport Operational Command Unit itself is funded by Transport for London at a cost of more than £70 million.

By the end of 2005 Transport for London fitted all of London's 8000 buses were with fully recording CCTV and there are now as many as 60,000 cameras fitted on the fleet. Since it started in November 2004 Operation BusTag has achieved over 1800 arrests for criminal damage.

Chief Superintendent Joe Royle, Transport Operational Command Unit said, "Operation BusTag is an effective tactic in confronting people who commit acts of bus criminal damage and anti-social behaviour. Criminal damage is a huge cost to the public purse and we treat these offences very seriously. If you commit acts of vandalism on London buses you will be caught with the help of CCTV."

The Transport OCU has recently made a film for distribution to all of London’s secondary schools. It has been sent to all the MPS’ Safer Schools Officers and Safer Neighbourhoods Officers, who will distribute the film.

September 28, 2007