Johnson would end free transport for misbehaving youths
Tom Lloyd
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Conservative London mayor candidate Boris Johnson has said he will remove young people's transport privileges if they misbehave.
The MP for Henley said he wants to remove the right of under 18s to free travel on London's buses if they commit antisocial behaviour.
"I am convinced that low-level crime on the buses is spawning more serious crime on the streets because too often they are serving as glorified getaway cars for teenage gangs ferrying them from one crime scene to the next," he said.
Johnson has promised that if he is elected in May he will invest in more Safer Transport Teams, made up of community support officers, and transport police to crack down on troublesome behaviour.
Offenders would be able to earn back their right to free travel by doing community work on projects approved by Transport for London, in a scheme known as Payback London.
"I am convinced that low-level crime on the buses is spawning more serious crime on the streets because too often they are serving as glorified getaway cars for teenage gangs ferrying them from one crime scene to the next," he said.
Johnson has promised that if he is elected in May he will invest in more Safer Transport Teams, made up of community support officers, and transport police to crack down on troublesome behaviour.
Offenders would be able to earn back their right to free travel by doing community work on projects approved by Transport for London, in a scheme known as Payback London.
