New 'Safe Bus' Comes To Bournemouth
A newly refurbished Safe Bus is pulling up in Bournemouth this autumn to help improve community safety in the town.
The Bournemouth Safe Bus provides a safe environment for anyone who may be vulnerable as a result of being intoxicated, injured, lost or unable to get back to their accommodation.
The refurbished single-decker bus, donated by Yellow Buses, looks like an ordinary bus from the outside, but inside it is fully kitted out with a range of facilities to provide care and support for those who may need it. The facilities include:
- Public waiting area
- Private treatment room
- Hot and cold running water and heating
- Private area at the back of the bus for people to be able to give police statements or for a vulnerable person to stay safe.
The Safe Bus operates from 9pm - 3am on Friday and Saturday nights based at Horseshoe Common in Bournemouth Town Centre.
The bus is operated by Dorset Police together with a team of volunteers and a paramedic and also supported on occasions by alcohol addiction counsellors and club chaplains.
Sian Jenkins, Community Safety Manager for Bournemouth Borough Council, said:
"The Safe Bus is a really important service for the town and plays a major part in improving community safety in Bournemouth town centre at the weekends. The Safe Bus has proven extremely successful to date in helping to reduce the number of accident and emergency admissions and ambulance call-outs as well as reducing calls to the police to attend minor incidents. I am delighted that we are now able to launch our new bus, which replaces our old tired bus which was in desperate need of replacement. It will enable all the partners involved to continue to provide this excellent service with improved and modern facilities."
Jenni Wilkinson, Head of Marketing for award-winning local operator Yellow Buses, part of the RATP Group, said:
"We are extremely pleased to have been asked to take part. As a proud member of the community, we are happy to support the Safe Bus scheme, which will play an important late-night role at weekends by providing a sanctuary for people in difficulty."
The Safe Bus will be parked all day in Bournemouth Square on Friday 12 October 2012 and members of the public are invited to take a look around the bus and talk to staff about the Safe Bus service. Free blood pressure checks and displays will be available throughout the day.
The Safe Bus is available for hire to local community groups and schools during week days.
For more information call: 01202 454797
or email: sian.jenkins@bournemouth.gov.uk