`Abusive' passenger banned from buses.

Byline: By Richard Porritt

explanation bus firm director Nigel Winter

Company takes action over bad behaviour

A MAN has been banned from travelling on buses after repeated bad behaviour.

First, the bus company which runs most services in Huddersfield, has taken the tough action.

The company has clamped down on the Milnsbridge man after he made false allegations about a driver.

The man said he had been purposely sandwiched between a bus and railings at Huddersfield bus station.

But CCTV footage proved the claim to be false.

A company spokesman said the man also had a history of abusing drivers and passengers.

Bus bosses decided the lies to be so serious they no longer wanted to let the man travel.

Nigel Winter, First commercial director, said it sent out a message to other passengers who did not behave.

He added: "He has been banned from using our buses and the reason for this is that he has made a malicious complaint.

"The incident he alleged happened was caught on CCTV and when we reviewed this there was absolutely no grounds for any complaint.

"The complaint was so malicious that, if it had been founded, the driver would have been summarily dismissed.

"It was very serious. The man is abusive and often threatening towards staff and he has been told that he must comply with the national rules which govern behaviour on passenger carrying vehicles.

"He has consistently failed to do so, and on that basis we had no option other than to ban him."

But Mr Winter said this sort of passenger was not common.

He added: "We carry 15,000 people into Huddersfield every morning - and we have banned just one man.

"I think this figure proves how rare behaviour like this is.

"I don't think passengers have anything to be concerned about.

"But the safety and comfort of our drivers and passengers will always comes first - and if that means banning a passenger in the future we will."