Northern Ireland

Translink school buses receive 1,300 complaints in five years

Dozens of incidents of bullying, fighting and pupil injuries have been recorded on Translink buses in the last five years
Dozens of incidents of bullying, fighting and pupil injuries have been recorded on Translink buses in the last five years Dozens of incidents of bullying, fighting and pupil injuries have been recorded on Translink buses in the last five years

SCHOOL buses in Northern Ireland have been the subject of more than 1,300 complaints in the past five years.

More than 100 incidents of bullying, fighting and pupil injuries have also been recorded on the Translink services over the same period.

Overcrowding, delays, anti-social behaviour, poor staff attitude and dangerous driving are among the complaints uncovered in records obtained by The Irish News.

The details emerge as pupils across Northern Ireland have returned to school following the Christmas holidays.

In total almost 1,500 complaints and other incidents involving pupils on Translink buses were reported – the equivalent of nearly two every school day.

Last year a Belfast passenger allegedly assaulted a school pupil on a bus, while on another city service a pupil was attacked by an older student.

A secondary school pupil in Co Tyrone was struck by a bus in 2014 while standing at a platform.

And a boy suffered a cut to his head in 2012 after being assaulted with "either a pen or knife" while on a bus in west Belfast's Falls area.

Services from the Europa bus station in Belfast attracted the most complaints, while most incidents took place in Belfast's Short Strand service area.

Translink said pupil safety is its "top priority" and the incidents and complaints represent only a small fraction of the school journeys it runs every year.

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People's office expressed concern over the figures and urged anyone who needs advice on such issues to contact them.

Under new legislation boards of governors will in future years have a responsibility of protecting children from bullying while travelling to and from school, a spokeswoman said.

"The commissioner's office is concerned about the issues raised which pupils face while being transported to and from school," she said.

"We are particularly concerned at the incidents outlined and believe that more could be done to prevent these by relevant authorities."

A total of 103 'incidents' were recorded between 2009/10 and 2015/16 such as bullying, fighting and injuries.

Translink also received more than 1,360 complaints about its school services over the period.

The figures have decreased slightly over the years with a peak of 298 complaints and 41 incidents recorded in 2011/12, according to a freedom of information request.

Over half of all incidents recorded were pupil injuries, while nearly a fifth related to bullying.

Almost a fifth of complaints were 'driver errors' – when a bus driver makes a mistake such as the route taken, information provided or tickets sold.

Overcrowding or 'full capacity' was the second most frequent complaint.

The figures relate to all bus services that carry school children including both dedicated school services and scheduled routes open to the public.

A Translink spokeswoman said: "Translink safely carries around 55,000 pupils every day on board our services which equates to around 21 million pupil journeys per year.

"Any complaints are fully investigated and the vast majority are resolved promptly, with only a very small number relating to serious allegations of anti-social behaviour.

"Pupil safety is always our top priority. We implement a wide range of safety awareness initiatives every year to maintain safety and a high level of service.

"We continue to work closely with the Education Authority and local schools to ensure pupil welfare and safety on board our services."

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:: Some of the incidents reported on school buses

- Pupil's mother alleged her son was assaulted in Enniskillen area

- Child hit by bus after running out between cars in Co Tyrone

- Alleged assault on Belfast bus involving schoolchildren and male passenger

- Girl's face cut by pupils from boys' school on bus in Belfast's Short Strand area

- Girl in Antrim hit in eye in 2011 by pellet gun

- Boy in Newcastle area alleged punched another pupil while on bus

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:: School bus complaints by area (2009/10 - 2015/16)

Europa, Belfast - 141

Lisburn - 129

Antrim - 124

Newtownards - 96

Craigavon - 82

Ballymena - 68

Larne - 66

Newtownabbey - 66

Bangor - 64

Newcastle - 62

Downpatrick - 57

Ballygowan - 56

Coleraine - 53

Short Strand, Belfast - 51

Magherafelt - 43

Newry - 34

Dungannon - 33

Carrickfergus - 27

Derry - 26

Armagh - 21

Enniskillen - 13

Omagh - 11

Great Victoria Street, Belfast - 10

Falls, Belfast - 7

Laganside, Belfast - 7

Central Area Metro, Belfast - 6