Vandals to take a back seat

By Tania Martin
UNDERCOVER police have been assigned to stamp out bus vandalism.
And bus operator US Bus Lines last week announced it had installed CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) cameras on all its after-hours services following a spate of attacks.
CEO Ron Hurley said it was disappointing to see young people having no respect for the service.
He said it was especially concerning that route 695 from Belgrave to Gembrook had become the latest target when the local community had fought so hard to have the service increased.
For the past two years resident have lobbied for an increase in the service and were granted their wish last month when it started running every half-an-hour.
Mr Hurley said the vandalism had reached an alarming level and needed to stop.
He said a group of youths were ruining the experience for the rest of the passengers.
“We have had seats slashed and stolen, fire extinguishers taken and ticket validators smashed,” Mr Hurley said.
Mr Hurley said this behaviour was causing delays in the service.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato has called youths to stop ruining the service for those who genuinely want to use it.
Ms Lobato said it was disheartening to see this happening after the community had worked so hard to get the service increased.
She said it was hard to believe youths had nothing better to do now that the service had been increased.
“This leaves a bad tinge for something that is so beneficial for the community.”
Ms Lobato said the State Government had also stepped in to provide undercover police to patrol the bus and also provide transport police.
Police will be patrolling the bus route from Belgrave to Gembrook on an ongoing basis and youths are warned that there will be a zero tolerance for antisocial behaviour.
Sergeant Stuart Halligan of Emerald police said the police presence and undercover transport agents seemed to be doing the trick.
He said following an operation on the weekend, no instances of damage or bad behaviour had been reported.
Sgt Halligan said police would continue to ride the buses to ensure public safety.