Officers from the Special Constabulary in Doncaster have led a number of operations over the last month, to crack down on criminal damage and antisocial behaviour on public transport.

The special officers worked with officers from British Transport Police (BTP) to conduct high visibility patrols of the Doncaster Interchange and the train station to deter antisocial behaviour and crime.

During the patrols several groups of young people were spoken to and advised about minor incidents of antisocial behaviour including swearing and causing a nuisance. Later in the evening, the officers attended Doncaster Airport to assist after reports were made of a large number of passengers on a First bus being rowdy and causing a nuisance through their drunken behaviour. The passengers were spoken to and two officers remained on the bus for the rest of the journey.

Due to reports of recent damages to bus windows and shelters, six officers from the special constabulary provided high visibility patrols in marked police vehicles of the main hotspot transport areas, Rossington, Edlington, Consibrough, Denaby and Mexborough. Several groups of young people were identified standing within bus shelter areas and were positively engaged with by the officers with no issues.

The officers also provided patrols on the buses operating in the Rossington area. They wore plain clothes and boarded a bus to detect offenders engaged in crime and antisocial behaviour on the route of the bus. There were no incidents on the bus but the officers positively engaged with several groups of youngsters on Grange Lane and West End Lane.

Deputy Specials Officer for Doncaster, Adrian Fuller said: "We often get a number of reports of antisocial behaviour and criminal damage on public transport around the Interchange and train station. These operations enable us to patrol these areas as well as the transport to catch the offenders in action. It also offers reassurance to passengers and the drivers of the transport who are often targeted. We will continue to conduct similar operations in the future."