Folkestone Nite Rider: Reducing Crime but Under Threat

The 'Nite Rider' bus service which offers a cheap ride home to Folkestone clubbers could be scrapped - despite police evidence showing reductions in criminal damage and assaults. New Harbour Town Councillor Emily Sanger has supported the service, and wants to see it continued.

The Shepway Nite Rider service runs on Friday and Saturday nights and started on 27 May. It aims to help reduce late night anti-social behaviour by offering a bus ride home for £1. The Nite Rider bus picks up passengers from Harbour Approach at 12.45am, 1.30am and 2.15am and takes them to 12 drop-of points across the town and Hawkinge.

Police spokesman Jon Green said the pilot period would end in August, but there would be a review of passenger levels in July. Mr Green said:

"Our initial evidence shows that incidents of criminal damage and assaults have gone down.

"We are receiving a lot of positive feedback from residents who live in those areas where there are nightclubs and pubs to say that they're very pleased with the service because people are moving away from the area."

Around 180 passengers were needed each night in order to keep the service running.

"If we have under that then there is a shortfall [in money] and unfortunately we won't be able to sustain that for too much longer," said Mr Green.

Emily Sanger said:

"Any new scheme like this is going to take a while to get going - people need to know the service is there, and that they can rely on it. The service has currently been running under a month, yet police already say it is having a positive impact and reducing crime: that's fantastic.

"With increased promotion and word of mouth, I would hope that the service will move towards breaking even, and that at the end of the pilot scheme, it can be continued. Users should be asked for their views on the service, and ways they think it could be improved - for example, are the routes and times right, and are there other destinations that should be served?"

The Nite Rider is backed by Kent Police, Shepway District Council and the Folkestone Area Partnership Against Crime. It is a mainly self-funding service, but some money will come from Home Office contributions to the Shepway Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.