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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
REQUEST NUMBER:
F-2015-00047
REQUEST DETAILS:
“How many people were the victim of an attack on public transport in the
years of 2012, 2013, and 2014?
"An attack" being defined as any form of physical violence against a person
which resulted in your force attending the incident.
"Public transport" being defined as any bus, train or mode of transport used to
transport multiple people.
Please provide a breakdown of which year the attack happened in, and where
the attack happened. Please provide (without identifying individual parties)
what happened in each incident.”
RESPONSE:
Suffolk Constabulary has considered your request for information and our
response is below.
This response is correct as of 7 January 2015
A search was completed of the Crime Information System for all crimes
reported that have occurred on a bus. The total number of such incidents was
31 for the last 3 full calendar years, as follows:
Bus Incidents
No of offences
2012
10
2013
10
2014
11
Grand Total
31
Unfortunately, the Constabulary is unable to complete a search of the venue
‘public transport’ due to limitations of the system. However, it is worthy to note
that offences, which take place on a train, would be dealt with by British
Transport Police and therefore are not held on our crime data system.
Some of the offences included within this table are sexual offences and may
not be classed as ‘physical violence’, but would generically be seen as an
‘attack’.
The Suffolk Constabulary in complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the enclosed information will continue to
be protected by law. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of
the attached information should be addressed to the Information Compliance Manager, Suffolk
Constabulary Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, IP5 3QS.
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A brief summary of each incident is provided below, by district and year.
2012
Babergh
During the hours of daylight on board a school bus assaulted by a fellow student
by the offender grabbing him around the throat and squeezing
Ipswich
During hours of darkness offender has got onto an Ipswich bus, out of date pass
was refused the offender has then punched the driver twice in the side of the
face causing soreness to his jaw and ear
During hours of darkness on a busy town centre bus the offender has touched
the victims knee and made comments to her about being pretty and him liking to
kiss and cuddle women
During hours of darkness victim and her partner have encountered harassment
whilst sat on a public transport bus
During the hours of daylight on bus the driver informed offender his fare had run
out offender got off bus and pushed driver in the face before getting off and
leaving on foot no injuries caused to driver
Mid Suffolk
It is alleged that offender has put his hand down her top and touched her left
breast
St. Edmundsbury
Between material times on upper floor of double decker bus victim has been
assaulted by being grabbed on upper clothing and forced into seat where he
has been punched twice to body and twice to head causing minor discomfort
Offender has punched victim in the face whilst travelling home from school on
the school bus after an incident where the offenders girlfriend was struck by a
plastic bottle thrown by another pupil
Suffolk Coastal
Whilst climbing down from upper level of school double decker bus was kicked
in back causing her to fall down half of the stairs causing pain and discomfort
Waveney
During the hours of daylight whilst travelling on public transport boarded sat
next to female chatted with her before touching her knee on exiting bus
The Suffolk Constabulary in complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the enclosed information will continue to
be protected by law. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of
the attached information should be addressed to the Information Compliance Manager, Suffolk
Constabulary Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, IP5 3QS.
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2013
Babergh
Whilst travelling on the top deck of a bus the suspect is alleged to have grabbed
a boys penis through his trousers
Ipswich
During daylight hours whilst on the bus the suspect has approached victim and
struck her in the face with an open hand after a verbal altercation causing no
injury
During daytime hours on a public bus route offender has spoken to a member of
public about his son and made unsavoury comments
During the hours of daylight whilst sat on the back seat of a bus travelling to
school victim has been slapped to the head about four or five times and then
suspect his hit him in the face with her bag
Male offender whilst on a college mini bus has put his hand inside victims
knickers whilst sitting next to her and put his hand inside her vagina and rubbed
it whilst masturbating himself
Victim has taken offenders photo and he has assaulted victim by grabbing her
wrist and pushing her backwards of the bus
Mid Suffolk
Victim was pulled back by her arm and hair by the offender as she went to alight
from the bus
Whilst travelling on school bus victim has been assaulted by the offender
shaking her so violently she has passed out and had bruising on he face
St. Edmundsbury
Over the period of approx 1 week the offender whilst on the morning bus that
takes the victim to school has had his arm deaded and his face slapped
Waveney
During afternoon whilst on work bus became aggressive standing up and
clenching fists threatening to punch the aggrieved whilst intoxicated
The Suffolk Constabulary in complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the enclosed information will continue to
be protected by law. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of
the attached information should be addressed to the Information Compliance Manager, Suffolk
Constabulary Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, IP5 3QS.
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2014
Babergh
During material date and time the offender verbally abused the victim
Forest Heath
During daylight hours whilst on school bus male suspect has slapped male
victim around the face causing no injury
During the hours of darkness victim has been slapped by suspect
Ipswich
During daylight hours accosted a lone female sat next to her then touched her
knee and just above her knee and nudged her arm repeatedly and said he
wanted to meet
During daylight hours on a bus travelling just outside of the town centre victim
has been assaulted, offender kicked her on the leg after a dispute over seating
arrangements
St. Edmundsbury
Between material times during daylight hours whilst on a school bus a group of
known offenders have held a lighter to the victims hair whilst sitting in seats
behind her this has caused her hair to set alight but caused no injuries
Suffolk Coastal
Offender has entered into verbal altercation with victim over seat on the bus
during daylight hours whereupon the offender has raised her open hand and
slapped victim across the face and kicked her to the thigh area
Waveney
During hours of daylight on public school bus has assaulted female by kicking
her on the back of the leg and scratching her hands and arms causing them to
bled
During hours of daylight on public school bus has assaulted female by punching
her in the face nose stomach and jaw causing no visible injuries
During the hours of darkness whilst on a public service bus had verbal
argument with driver before punching driver twice to the face causing no injury
During the hours of daylight on a school bus suspect has deposited liquid
detergent over the victims head causing irritation to eyes and mouth
The Suffolk Constabulary in complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the enclosed information will continue to
be protected by law. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of
the attached information should be addressed to the Information Compliance Manager, Suffolk
Constabulary Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, IP5 3QS.
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Police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide
crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set
nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are
not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the crime
data. It should be noted that for these reasons this force's response to
your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any
other response you may receive.
The Suffolk Constabulary in complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the Freedom
of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the enclosed information will continue to
be protected by law. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of
the attached information should be addressed to the Information Compliance Manager, Suffolk
Constabulary Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, IP5 3QS.