Police to offer free bus rides home for revellers

REVELLERS in Hull are being offered free bus rides home in a police-funded scheme to reduce potential violence in taxi queues.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Apr 2011, 10:09 BST

Humberside Police said it was funding the late night services run by Stagecoach as a trial for a month to help drinkers get home safely.

But a senior city councillor has criticised the scheme, which is costing up to £1,000 a week. John Fareham, Conservative group leader at Hull Council, said: “It does seem that young people who are absolutely inebriated may be getting something that isn’t open to those of us who only have two pints, go home and have to pay for a taxi.”

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Sgt Andy Parsons, from Hull’s Violent Crime and Licensing Team, said: “The cost of supporting the free service is insignificant against the cost of an assault incident as a result of people walking home or being stood in crowded taxi queues.”

Humberside Police Federation said it supported the initiative.