Stagecoach East involvement with the local Buses and Businesses Against Abuse (BAA) scheme is gaining national traction, the operator has said. That is via a spread of best-practice materials to other Stagecoach subsidiaries and influence on the programme of driver training that is mandatory under the Bus Services Act in England.
The operator joined the scheme in 2024. Its buses are places of refuge for people fearing that they will be subject to abusive behaviour, an approach delivered in partnership with Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Centre.
Should a driver recognise that a woman or girl may be in fear of abuse on the street or on the bus, they are authorised by Stagecoach to pull over and ask if assistance is needed, and if needed, take them to a safe place on the route.
All Stagecoach East buses have BAA buttons on their ticket machines and display BAA stickers with QR codes by their entrance doors, designating them as safe spaces.
That work behind Stagecoach East’s involvement in BAA is spreading beyond its operating area was disclosed by Training Manager Ian de Chastelain at a Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce event to mark International Women’s day, which was held on 8 March.
The Buses and Businesses Against Abuse approach is inspiring three other police forces and Stagecoach group companies to launch similar schemes, the operator says.
In addition, Mr de Chastelain told guests that many BAA and Stagecoach East materials and best practice examples have helped to shape the government’s England-wide training programme for bus drivers. Several members of the operator’s team, from managers to drivers, were consulted in the writing of those materials.
“The BAA scheme has been a huge success,” he continues. “Since its launch we have been able to help with several major incidents, some involving the police and emergency services.” One driver received a complement from a police superintendent for his actions.
“These incidents have ranged from a young woman who boarded one of our buses to feel safe upon seeing our ‘this bus is a safe place’ destination message, and diverting a service to take a young woman to a place of safety for help, to direct intervention by a driver to keep a predator away from a young woman, resulting in an abusive male being arrested.”
