BusTag Officers Release CCTV Pictures of Wanted Men
Do you recognise these faces?
Operation BusTag has released CCTV pictures of a number of suspects in an effort to identity people involved in bus criminal damage.
Operation BusTag is a team within the Metropolitan Police Service’s Safer Transport Command, which is working with a CCTV Investigation Unit, in partnership with Transport for London and London bus companies to identify and arrest offenders who damage buses.
All these CCTV stills are first circulated within the Police network before being passed on to the public sector for identification.
These three individuals are suspected of etching Route 607 boards on April 19. 2008. They boarded the bus on
Since BusTag's inception it has tripled its arrest rate of offenders of bus criminal damage, which takes the form of graffiti, window etching, seat and window damage, and arson, which costs the bus companies millions of pounds in repairs every year.
More than 95% of the arrests made as a result of BusTag investigations have resulted in judicial disposals against the offender, ranging from fines and community service to imprisonment.
BusTag’s latest circulation of a large number of suspects is a concerted effort to identify those involved in bus criminal damage. This supports the MPS and TfL commitment to reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.
All CCTV stills from incident footage are circulated initially within the Police network before passing on to the public sector for identification.
BusTag would like to hear anonymously on the following telephone numbers from anyone who can help with their enquiries:
OPERATION BUSTAG Tel: (020) 7027-8950
CRIMESTOPPERS Tel: 0800 555 111
BusTag officers are highly skilled and effective in CCTV identification and work alongside colleagues with local knowledge such as Safer Transport Teams, Safer Neighbourhood Teams and Safer Schools to track down those responsible.
Since November 2004, BusTag has achieved more than 3000 arrests for bus criminal damage. Successful prosecution has resulted in offenders receiving fines, community service and imprisonment.
Chief Superintendent Joe Royle, Safer Transport Command said:
“The Safer Transport Command is working with its partners to keep London moving safely.
"Our Operation BusTag is an effective tactic in confronting people who commit acts of bus criminal damage and anti-social behaviour.
“These people may think they have got away with it. They are wrong. We are determined that all offenders of bus criminal damage are brought to justice and we will leave no stone unturned in our endeavour to do so.
“However without successful identification there can be no arrests. By publishing the images in the local press there is an even stronger chance of identification through the local community to whom we are extremely grateful for any information received.
”If you do commit an act of bus criminal damage you will be caught and prosecuted with the aid of CCTV and any other means at our disposal.”
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March 4, 2010