The bus operator has apologised for any inconvenience caused
Bus stops outside Morrisons in Speke(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A warning has been issued to anyone using a popular Liverpool bus service this evening. The Arriva 82A takes passengers to and from Murdishaw in Runcorn to Liverpool ONE bus station.
It is regularly used by holidaymakers as it drops passengers off at Liverpool John Lennon Airport in Speke. However, the Arriva 82A will not be going through Speke at all this evening due to anti-social behaviour (ASB) at Speke Parade. Arriva posted at 7.11pm on X: “Due to ASB at Speke Parade, there will be no 82A service through Speke for the remainder of the evening.”
The post added: “Sorry for any inconvenience caused but our staff and passengers safety is our main priority.” Merseyside Police declined to comment when approached by the ECHO.
The ECHO reported in February that gangs of children as young as 10 were “setting fire to buses, blocking roads and launching fireworks at traffic” in Speke.
The wave of anti-social behaviour had forced Arriva and Stagecoach divert some of its services in the area to ensure the safety of passengers.
Some of these incidents had taken place outside the large Morrisons superstore on Penketh Drive. Merseyside Police said it is working closely with Morrisons and other businesses in the area to tackle problems in Speke.
When the ECHO visited the area around the bus stops, several people claimed it is often unsafe at night as teenagers and older children wreck the buses. One man said: “It’s ridiculous. It’s happening every week – people throw stuff at the bus. There’s no police around here.”
A woman living on Millwood Road, a few hundred yards from the bus stop, echoed these claims. She said: “It’s terrible. It’s happening all the time. The kids will be kicking the doors out when they’re on the bus.
“When they’re asked to get off, they refuse. It’s terrible to live by it. It’s been happening for a long time. It makes it much harder to get to your house.”
One woman told the ECHO: “We have a gang of feral kids running Speke since around September time, setting fire to buses, throwing fireworks at traffic and letting them off in shops. Police have been called multiple times but nothing is being done.”
Despite the issues of anti-social behaviour plaguing the area, residents still have a strong sense of pride in where they live. A number of people told the ECHO these incidents typically occur at night and are not just limited to the Speke area.
A spokesperson for Arriva said at the time: “Because the safety of our staff and customers is vitally important to us, we must sometimes take the decision to divert our services from the area.
We do report any incidents to the police and we work closely with them in doing what we can to keep people safe.
“It goes without saying that we completely condemn any behaviour that is antisocial and dangerous around our buses and we should not have to tell people to respect people’s safety, but unfortunately we do.”
A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “Stagecoach is committed to working closely with our TravelSafe partners, including Merseytravel, Merseyside Police, British Transport Police and other transport operators, to ensure that people feel safe when using public transport.
“As part of this initiative, we work closely with schools, colleges and youth groups advising young people on how to travel safely and behave responsibly on the network and to talk about the dangers, impacts and consequences of crime, anti-social behaviour and fare evasion.
“We have seen a reduction in vandalism on our buses and continue to work together with our partners to tackle any reported issues.
“Members of the public can report any incidents or issues via MerseyTravel’s website: TravelSafe Partnership | Merseytravel.”
Merseyside Police’s local policing inspector Steve Reilly said at the time: “It is vital that we take a partnership approach to problem solving in areas such as Speke, who suffer from anti-social behaviour (ASB) and other issues.
“We are also working with Liverpool City Council, Targeted Services for young people to intervene with them and identify those responsible for ASB, working together, they aim to steer young people away from criminal behaviour. Working closely with our Travelsafe team we are ensuring that public transport links can run and support the community to go about their daily business.
“Our officers and staff are all members of the community themselves, so we understand the impact that incidents of anti-social behaviour cause. Information is vital in our work, so please report any incidents or concerns to us, so we can focus on the right areas. I’d also remind people to always call 999 if a crime is in progress or 101, our non-emergency number.
“You can pass any information via our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter or Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook. You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.”