Night bus stops over safety fears

Police said trouble was more likely if people stayed in the town centre

A bus service which offers a cheap ride home to late-night revellers in a Kent town has been scrapped just five weeks into its pilot period.

The Shepway Nite Rider ran three Friday and Saturday services out of Folkestone town centre from 27 May.

But Stagecoach said the police presence that was promised on every service has not materialised, jeopardising the safety of staff and passengers.

Kent Police said their resources were stretched to the limit at weekends.

Police obligation

The double-decker Nite Rider aimed to reduce late-night trouble and get people home safely and quickly after a night out.

Ch Insp Paul Wilczek said: "This bus is operated at the busiest time of our business week - Friday and Saturday nights.

"The duty inspector has had to make some tough decisions that we could not fulfil our obligation to provide a police officer for the night time bus."

But Stagecoach's operation director Neil Install said the £1 service could not operate without an officer on board.

Violent crime

"This is the third scheme we've been involved in and it's absolutely important for the safety of everyone that there is a police presence."

Shepway District Council spokeswoman Jyotsna Leneyi said she was "very disappointed" by the decision.

"The service was introduced to disperse people away from the town centre and in the early weeks we have noticed a drop in violent crime figures."

She said it was a setback but the council may try to resurrect the service again.