Operation Bandit targets anti-social behaviour, fare evasion on Geelong buses

More than 180 fare evaders have been sprung in a joint operation between Geelong police and public transport officers to stamp out anti-social behaviour in the city.

Geelong Police and Public Transport Victoria officers conduct Operation Bandit, targeting anti-social behaviour and fare evasion. Picture: Brad Fleet

Police officers have seized weapons from passengers travelling on Geelong buses as part of a planned operation to target anti-social behaviour on the city’s public transport.

Police and officers from Public Transport Victoria (PTV) swarmed the Moorabool St bus stop this week as part of Operation Bandit, a two-day sting which aimed to stamp out criminal offences and fare evasion on Geelong buses.

The operation comes after a small number of isolated, recent incidents on buses including passengers spitting on and assaulting bus drivers.

Travelling on the route 30 bus from Geelong to Whittington on Tuesday, police noticed a 16-year-old boy who appeared nervous.

Officers searched the boy when he got off the bus in Whittington and seized a knife from his possession.

Police seized a knife from a teen boy as part of Operation Bandit.

Police and PTV targeted the Moorabool St bus stop as part of the operation, checking Myki cards of every passenger boarding and disembarking buses.

Each passenger found not to be carrying a Myki was reported to the Department of Transport.

It will decide whether they will be given a warning or face a fine of $280, or $96 if under the age of 18.

One PTV officer reported seven passengers within 30 minutes who had either not touched on their Myki or did not possess one.

Throughout the operation, 182 passengers were given infringements for fare evading.

Police kept an eye out for local passengers who were banned from McHarry’s buses for spitting on and assaulting drivers but had breached their bans on several occasions.

Geelong Police and Public Transport Victoria officers conduct Operation BANDIT at Geelong bus exchange targeting anti-social behaviour and fare evasion. Picture: Brad Fleet

Officers also targeted troublesome bus services including route 31 to St Albans Park and route 50 to Torquay and Jan Juc.

Two police members rode each bus from the Moorabool St bus stop through Whittington and St Albans Park and back along with three public transport officers and a third police officer following the bus in a vehicle to bolster the operation.

Officers also pulled over 32 vehicles in central Geelong, checking licences and completing vehicle checks.

Sergeant Shaun Johnson. Picture: Brad Fleet

As part of the operation, one person was remanded for shoplifting, two people were processed for carrying controlled weapons - weapons that can be carried for legitimate purposes but may pose a potential danger to the community - and 28 penalty notices were given for traffic offences - such as speeding or driving an unregistrated vehicle.

Sergeant Shaun Johnson said police and bus drivers had “had enough” and officers were taking a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour on public transport.

“We will continue to swarm these areas to deter crimes and ensure the community feels safe when using our public transport networks,” he said.

“Our community deserves a safe environment.”

Originally published as Operation Bandit targets anti-social behaviour, fare evasion on Geelong buses