Bus diversions due to anti-social behaviour
BBCA bus operator has announced temporary evening diversions in part of Newcastle due to persistent anti-social behaviour.
Stagecoach said nine services will be diverted from 18:30 BST until the end of service in Blakelaw.
Operations manager Colin Newbury said: "We have a responsibility to take appropriate action where there is a credible risk to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, customers or vehicles."
Services 6, 7, 32, 32A, X47, X77, X78, X87 and X88 will operate on temporary diversion routes where there have been ongoing incidents. Police have made several arrests.
Residents do not know when the diversions will end and while Stagecoach has not specified the age of those involved in the incidents, people living in the area said they think it is predominantly kids with not a lot to do.
One told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I believe the children are winning.
"They're mugging the bus drivers and they're throwing bricks through car windows as well."
Another said people were frightened to leave their homes in the evening because of the anti-social behaviour. "It's not fair," they said.
Meanwhile, another said: "They've got to do something about it, all these angry children.
"They need to be finding somewhere for them to go."
'Trojan Bus'
Stagecoach said a series of incidents led to the decision.
There has been deliberate damage to a Stagecoach vehicle, verbal abuse towards drivers and threatening anti-social behaviour from large groups, the bus company said.
Newbury said the decision had not been taken lightly and there had been discussions with Northumbria Police and trade unions before this point, but they needed "to act now before someone is seriously injured".
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said the force was using "a range of tactics" in Blakelaw, including uniformed and plain-clothes patrols and the deployment of a "Trojan Bus", which is a decoy service to catch anti-social behaviour and crime on public transport.
The force has arrested nine young people who are currently on police bail.
"As always, we would ask that parents of young people in the area know where they are going on an evening, who they are with and that they remind those they care for of the dangers of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour," they said.
Diversion routes
Service 32, 32A, X47, X77, X78, X87 and X88 buses will divert from Ponteland Road via Springfield Road, Stamfordham Road, the A1 Northbound, and Junction 77 (Kenton Bar) before rejoining their normal routes at Kenton Bar Roundabout.
Services travelling towards Newcastle City Centre will follow the same diversion route in reverse. No service will operate between Springfield Road and Etal Lane in either direction from 1830 until the end of service.
Service 6, and 7 buses will not travel down Cragston Ave or Ponteland Road in either direction.
Stagecoach said the arrangement will be kept under review as work continues to improve safety in the area.
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