SHADOW TRANSPORT SECRETARY CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TO BOOST BUS TRAVEL IN NEW ESSAY COLLECTION

• Richard Holden MP has warned that Labour has prioritised ideological passion projects over tackling rising anti-social behaviour and proposes radical policy changes to ensure buses are safer, cleaner, and more reliable.

• To tackle the rising cases of anti-social behaviour on buses, he calls for CCTV cameras to be rolled out to more bus stops across Britain and more uniformed staff on buses during journeys.

• The Shadow Secretary of State for Transport’s piece comes upon the release of Conservative Environment Network’s essay collection which contains a series of policies designed to restore pride in our communities, boost economic opportunity, and tackle pollution. The collection includes contributions from other senior conservatives, including Victoria Atkins and Andy Street.

Today the Conservative Environment Network (CEN) has launched a new essay collection, A shining city upon a hill: restoring pride and tackling pollution in our towns and cities. The collection includes contributions from leading conservatives which set out how we can revive our high streets, expand clean transport infrastructure, and bring beauty back to our towns and cities by streamlining red tape, unlocking private investment, and tackling anti-social behaviour. 

The collection includes a contribution from Shadow Secretary for Transport Richard Holden MP, who proposes radical policies to ensure the safety of the British public by tackling anti-social behaviour on buses. 

From 2024 to 2025, anti-social behaviour increased by 24%. The Government and mayors must urgently get a grip on rising crime and anti-social behaviour by ensuring the law is enforced. But instead, Labour is prioritising ownership and central control of bus services rather than restoring public confidence and safety.   

Bus travel has declined by 12% in the last twenty years, contributing to increased congestion and air pollution which can be detrimental to people’s health and undermining civic pride. These figures are also worrying given how vital buses are for economic growth and boosting youth employment. 

Therefore, the essay proposes two radical policies to make buses safe and comfortable again: 

• Visible staff patrols and laws to back them up, as on some of the rail network, would not only deter everyday anti-social behaviour, but also materially improve the passenger experience

• A further roll out of CCTV at bus stops would ensure crimes can be tackled, anti-social behaviour deterred, and provide real-time information on bus arrivals to reduce the anxiety many passengers feel while waiting on the street

CEN has further highlighted how more CCTV cameras at bus stops and adding routine staff patrols on buses can tackle and prevent more serious crimes. As crime continues to spiral, these policies will create a safer environment so people can feel confident in our bus networks and benefit from this affordable, environmentally-friendly, and convenient mode of transport.

The essay collection also includes a contribution from former Mayor of the West Midlands, Sir Andy Street, who says we must stop transport infrastructure projects getting bogged down in unnecessary red tape and unleash British innovation. He suggests that we: 

• Stop requiring all utilities to be moved under a tramline, with utilities companies only replacing what is necessary and maintaining accurate records of utilities’ locations

• Reduce costs by allowing projects to use shallower trackbeds to match the depth used by our European counterparts

Co-editor of the essay collection, CEN’s Head of Outreach Isabel Goodwin, said: 

“These contributions could not be more timely. The country is on the verge of Andy Burnham’s prime ministerial coronation and it is clear boosting regional growth and devolving decision-making will be at the top of his agenda.

“ Conservatives must have a clear, alternative vision and plan for delivery -.one that is based on core conservative ideas of streamlining red tape, unlocking private investment, and trusting that local people know their communities best. We must place tackling pollution and cleaning and greening our communities at the heart of this agenda. Stewardship of our local environment is the key to restoring civic pride, expanding economic opportunity, and boosting productivity in our towns and cities across the UK.”

Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said: 

“I am proud to be building on this legacy by leading our Policy Renewal Programme, which is focused on strengthening the economy and the environment of our coastal and market towns and our rural communities alike.

“Climate change and nature loss are happening. Tackling these challenges in a pragmatic way can help us grow more of our own food, protect against flooding, support the public good and help our economy prosper. I’ve seen first-hand, as Shadow Secretary of State and in my own gloriously rural and coastal constituency, how thoughtful and realistic environmental stewardship is already reaping the benefits of more varied wildlife, more pollinators and better-quality crops. We should think further about how we can boost access to nature so the 85% of Britons who live in urban areas can reap the benefits nature offers too.

“This essay collection brings together contributions from Conservatives on what this plan could look like. Although these ideas are not currently party policy, they include ideas on how Conservatism can deliver for everyone in our towns and cities across the country: delivering better air quality, improving health outcomes, and creating more beautiful communities which people will be proud to call home.”

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: 

“Where Labour’s instinct is to focus on structures, ownership, and central control; a Conservative approach starts with standards, enforcement, and outcomes for passengers. Ultimately, fixing our bus networks is about restoring confidence in everyday public services. Passengers do not ask who owns the bus. They ask whether it turns up, whether it feels safe and clean, and whether it gets them where they need to go on time. 

“Both passengers and operators need durable security, with less reliance on bailout after bailout. Alongside this, better coordination of roadworks, including a national rollout of lane rental schemes on all bus routes, would significantly cut congestion, pollution, and journey times. 

“That hesitation is compounded by the everyday reality of anti-social behaviour. More often than not, this is not serious criminality, but rather the irritation caused by loud music, vaping, and rowdy, inconsiderate behaviour – such as shoes on seats – all of which erode passengers’ sense of comfort and security. A broader lack of confidence that the bus will arrive at all, with route cuts, reduced frequencies, and unreliable services, only reinforces the perception that buses are not dependable.

“To raise standards and renew public faith in the safe, comfortable journeys on which bus users should be able to rely, there must be genuine enforcement both at bus stops and on board. Reliable evening and late-night services, supported by CCTV and accurate, real time arrival information, would reduce the anxiety many passengers feel while waiting on the street. Visible staff patrols and laws to back them up, as on some of the rail network, would not only deter everyday anti-social behaviour, but also materially improve the passenger experience.”

Former Mayor of the West Midlands Sir Andy Street said: 

“Trams combine the ridership numbers of trains with the frequency of buses, with a tramline taking up a single lane but carrying up to 22,000 people per hour. This allows for a better passenger experience with an affordable ticket price that matches local bus fares, providing cheap, reliable travel that will help expand residents’ career and education prospects. 

“This is particularly critical given our current productivity problem and the high rates of youth unemployment. Young people may not have the funds or desire to purchase a car, so are more reliant on public transport to get around. 

“By adding more routes and a wider choice of modes of public transport, the next generation will have access to new opportunities so they can build a brighter future for themselves, their communities, and wider society.

“Trams successfully cut air pollution, improving people’s health and reducing the burden on the NHS. 

“Despite these obvious benefits, building tram networks in the UK is lengthy and expensive due to restrictive red tape and overly complex planning permission. Other countries do not have this level of regulation, meaning they can build more quickly and cheaply while still running safe, successful tram networks.  

“For example, the average cost of building a tramline in Europe is £42 million per mile, while in the UK it costs over double that at £87 million per mile. If the UK built tramlines at the same cost per mile as our European neighbours, we could build an additional 75 miles of tramway without spending a penny more.”