Security guards to begin operating on Dublin Bus services

Security guards are to begin operating on Dublin Bus services from today, which the company says is in response to rising incidents of anti-social behaviour, which have doubled over the past five years.

Mobile teams of security personnel will travel on buses daily during afternoon, evening and night services as part of a 20-week pilot programme.

In 2019, there were around 500 reports of anti-social behaviour on Dublin Bus, but last year the figure had risen to over 1,000.

Two mobile units of security personnel will operate on the north and southside of the city between 2pm and 2am Sunday to Thursday and from 4pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday as part of the pilot programme that Dublin Bus plans to make permanent.

The company said its safer journeys team was established following advice from independent security experts and is designed to make customers and employees feel safer on their services.

They said the teams will be located in areas identified as priorities and that they will closely monitor their impact including feedback from customers and employees, incident response times and overall incident numbers.

'Every driver has the right to be safe' - unions

Dublin Bus said the security guards will complement existing safety measures such as on-board CCTV and close cooperation with the gardaí.

CEO of Dublin Bus Billy Hann said: "The team will provide a visible and reassuring presence for both our customers and employees, actively enhancing safety and security across our network."

SIPTU and the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) have welcomed the move but said the need for a dedicated garda public transport unit remains.

In a joint-statement, NBRU Secretary General Dermot O'Leary and SIPTU Transport Sector Organiser John Murphy said: "Every driver has the right to be safe and protected while at work and this initiative is a welcome move towards achieving that goal.

"However, we want to be very clear in our view, that this is not a silver bullet and the need for a dedicated garda public transport unit remains."

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Hann outlined that the security team will have a background role but will be identifiable to the public.

"It'll be very much a de-escalation type of role. So, if there's any issues with regards to anti-social behaviour, their first role will be to de-escalate that situation.

"But they'd be standing in the background, being visible, not getting involved in the operation at all, until it's absolutely necessary," Mr Hann said.