CCTV cameras installed at anti-social behaviour ‘hotspot’ in Lancaster

The cameras installed by Lancaster City Council who own the bus station, are mounted on the columns down each side of the station, and have been placed there following concerns about the bus station becoming a hotspot for ASB, said Lancaster Bus Users’ Group.

The city council’s records show that there were 152 recorded “incidents” in 2023 of which 37 were categorised as ASB.

The installation comes at a time when Lancashire County Council is developing a pilot project to combat anti-social behaviour on buses and at bus stops and stations, funded through

the Bus Service Improvement Plan, which will employ a task force of six “transport safety officers” across the county council’s area and Lancaster City Council is believed to be making

a case for Lancaster to be included.

The Bus Users’ Group said they welcome both these initiatives because although in a recent survey by Transport Focus 81% of Lancashire bus passengers rated safety and security as “fairly or very good” anything that makes the remaining 19% of passengers feel safer must be a good thing.

A spokesman for Lancaster City Council said: “New security cameras were funded and installed by Lancaster City Council at Lancaster Bus Station in December last year to replace existing cameras which were no longer fit for purpose.

“In response to the bus station becoming a hot spot for anti-social behaviour, additional cameras were installed to monitor activity both inside and outside the bus station and to provide more clarity in identifying those responsible for anti-social behaviour, damage and other incidents.

“Our records show that the cameras recorded 106 incidents of anti-social behaviour at the bus station last year.”