Night bus service in Newquay hailed as success

A summer night bus service in Newquay, aimed at reducing drink driving and anti-social behaviour, has been praised by local police for its effectiveness.

The service, which operated between 6 July and 7 September, carried 659 passengers on a circular route between Newquay, St Columb Major, Indian Queens and Newquay bus station.

In North Devon, a similar service, part of the same initiative, transported nearly 1,500 people.

The buses ran with a minimum fare of £2 for a single ticket. Police say that during the summer months, when the population increases due to holidaymakers, they usually record a rise in crime offences, particularly during the longer evenings.

Sergeant Dave Flynn of Devon & Cornwall Police said:

"This initiative was a great success and we are pleased that so many people used the bus services. This means we recorded fewer offences and more people were kept safe from harm. It is difficult to know how many crimes we managed to prevent, but it is heartening that those on a night out in North Devon and Newquay felt confident and reassured to use this handy form of public transport."

CCTV operators also reported that the town centre cleared more quickly once pubs and clubs closed, thanks to the bus services.

The force and its partners are hopeful that they will obtain the funding required to run the night bus service again in places such as north Devon in the coming months.