Safe Bus is just the ticket at Plymouth University Freshers Fair

It’s a brand new term and the fantastic Safe Bus pulled into Plymouth University campus earlier this week so police and partners could show off the facilities on offer for anyone on a night out.

The bright green bus was part of the Freshers Fair event in the city and members of the local neighbourhood police team spoke to students about the mobile treatment and welfare centre which offers a safe space for anyone who needs it.

They were joined by staff who help people every Saturday night including Western Medical Services and volunteers from Plymouth City Pastors. Also supporting the event was Councillor Sally Haydon from Plymouth City Council and Cat Macdonald, co-ordinator for the Plymouth Best Bar None scheme. The scheme links in with accredited licensed premises to look after those on a night out and keep everyone safe. They also promote the ‘Ask Angela’ nationwide scheme which means customers can rely on help from bar staff if they feel vulnerable.         

Plymouth Youth Engagement Officer PC Deb Hart helped organise the event at the Freshers Fair on 16 September. She explained: “It’s a new term but our priority to keep people safe remains the same. The Safe Bus is a great facility for students and anyone else on a night out in Plymouth city centre. We wanted those people who may have moved here from other parts of the country to know that we have this amazing bus which is there for anyone who needs it.

“From experience we know that many students have benefitted from the Safe Bus in the past and we hope we can help many more people in the future.”   

The single decker bus has been running for several years and is normally parked in Derry’s Cross outside Timbervault Escape Rooms PL1 2TE.  

Help is available from 10pm Saturday nights until 4am on Sunday mornings and the bus can be a go-to spot and offer help if things don’t go as planned. This week the bus is available at Derrys Cross every night of the week in response to the busy time of year.

As well as Saturdays the Safe Bus will also be available on selected special nights such as Halloween (Friday 31 Oct) as well as Friday 5, 12 and 19 December. 

PC Deb Hart added: “It was great to meet some of the new students and they had the opportunity to climb aboard see the facilities and chat to police officers and other helpful colleagues.

“The bus is there to support anyone on a night out. A person may not require medical help but may have become separated from their friends or feel vulnerable in some way, maybe someone has had a few drinks, lost their phone or feel unwell.

“The trained medical staff on board can talk to people and make sure they are ok. If we can assist people on the bus it means fewer people going to busy hospitals and possibly facing a long wait.

“Taxi marshals close to the bus can make sure people get home safely and we can offer free water and phone charging. We would also urge people to perhaps use the Safe Bus as a mates meeting point. It’s bright green and easy to spot.”     

At the busy event PC Kristy Monk and Police Community Support Officer Ella Dowers gave out leaflets and other useful goodies and answered questions.        

The local bus company provide drivers to get the bus to and from its site and are a great supporter of the facility. The bus has helped keep hundreds of people safe since it was launched in Plymouth.   

Ruth from Western Medical Services, who works on the bus, commented: “We want people on a night out to know this is a safe space and we are not here to judge anyone. Please come and talk to us; we see ourselves as gatekeepers and can make sure you get the right help. We can carry out a medical assessment and check if you need further tests, for example.”   

The Devon and Cornwall Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has contributed £10k funding this year to support maintenance and refurbishment costs of the Plymouth Safe Bus.

In the future PC Hart is hoping that the bus can be further improved by having a toilet facility and spare clean clothes available for visitors who need them.