We’ve joined up with Stagecoach South West and Exeter City Council to combine our efforts in preventing and tackling antisocial behaviour in and around Exeter’s bus station, improving safety and the overall customer experience for passengers.
The CCTV system at the bus station has been linked to the city-wide network so that all bus station footage is now monitored 24/7 by the Exeter City Council CCTV control team, ensuring a rapid response to any incidents. If an issue is detected, the appropriate emergency services, whether police or other responders, can be dispatched immediately, reinforcing safety for passengers, staff, and the wider community.
Katie Wagstaff, Operations Director at Stagecoach South West said: “The project has been operational since the new year and is already making a positive impact. We are committed to making Exeter’s bus station and the surrounding city centre a welcoming place for our customers. By linking our CCTV system to the city-wide network, we are strengthening security and the overall experience for everyone using our services.”
The improved partnership is funded by the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding, facilitated through Devon County Council and operated through Exeter City Council who ensure professional oversight and response coordination.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said:
“It’s reassuring for passengers to know that the area around the bus station is being monitored and that emergency services are on hand. We want to help make public transport as appealing as possible in order to encourage green travel habits, and the CCTV coverage provides peace of mind for people, which I’m sure will be particularly welcomed by women travelling at night. Our Bus Service Improvement Plan funding from the DfT is improving the overall experience of bus travel, and I’m pleased that we’re working closely with Stagecoach and Exeter City Council to ensure safety and security is maintained as part of that.”
Exeter City Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Laura Wright, said: “It’s great to strengthen our partnership with Stagecoach and the bus station and provide even better CCTV coverage and monitoring across the city. Being able to link the bus station up with our operational centre allows us to have even better vision of any crime or disorder developing and help keep residents and visitors to Exeter safe.”
Additionally, Stagecoach continues to work with key stakeholders in relation to the Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) Charter which has been developed as part of Exeter’s commitment to keeping the city a safe place, where women feel confident and safe at night.
We are working with Stagecoach and other partners on a number of initiatives to help Devon residents travel safely, including the new night bus services across the South West bus network operating on Saturday nights. Running from midnight until as late as 4am these late night journeys offer customers a safe and affordable way to travel.
For more information visit our Travel Devon website or Stagecoach South West.