The first Travel Safe Officers are already on the ground, with recruitment continuing to build the team over the coming months. Working closely with transport operators and police partners, these new officers provide a visible presence on the network, offer reassurance to passengers, and help address concerns quickly and effectively. Across Portsmouth and Gosport, the scheme adds to investment in bus stops, shelters, lighting and CCTV, helping passengers travel with confidence.
Councillor Steve Forster, Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: "The bus is a lifeline for many people, whether they're travelling to work, school, shopping or spending time with family and friends. People should feel safe and confident making those journeys, including the wait at the bus stop and walking to and from their stop.
"This initiative is a direct response to what passengers have told us matters to them. By combining practical improvements such as CCTV coverage and new bus shelters with better lighting with visible Travel Safe Officer patrols on the network, we're helping to make bus travel in Gosport more welcoming and reassuring for everyone. As well as giving passengers greater confidence, the scheme will help tackle issues of anti-social behaviour that occurs along bus routes at an early stage and support the excellent bus services we have locally.
Councillor Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council, said: "Most bus journeys in Portsmouth and Gosport are safe and incident free. However, we know that concerns about anti-social behaviour can be a barrier for some people, particularly women and girls. We want everyone to feel safe and confident using public transport, and these measures have been shaped by listening to feedback from passengers and the wider community.
"The Travel Safe Scheme builds on travel safety improvements already being delivered across Portsmouth such as better lighting at bus stops and more CCTV at stops, by adding dedicated officers who provide a visible and reassuring presence on the network. Portsmouth's Travel Safe Officers are already getting to know regular passengers and becoming welcome figures on our public transport network."
Find out more about the Portsmouth travel safe scheme.
Find out more about the Hampshire scheme.
Report an incident with a bus stop or bus shelter in Gosport.