A new scheme that aims to create safe spaces for women and girls fearing abuse on buses has been launched. 

It comes after Stagecoach East struck a partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, and the Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Centre to back the Businesses Against Abuse (BAA) scheme. 

The initiative was officially launched at a ceremony at the Milton Park & Ride on October 16 in Cambridge, attended by women’s safety campaigners and local representatives. 

As part of the initiative, drivers are being trained to recognise people who are in vulnerable situations either on or off the bus. 

Women and girls fearing abuse will be able to alert a driver, who will let them stay on the bus and drop them at a safe place on route, or until help arrives. 

Managing director of Stagecoach East Darren Roe, said: “Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls is something that we all need to take responsibility for and we are working very hard to play our part in this.

"I would encourage anyone who is in fear or abuse, either on the bus or if they see a bus, to make themselves known to the driver, who will try to help them.

"We have no silver bullet and we cannot solve every problem, but we have the desire and the determination to play our part, and over time our drivers will become ever more confident with what we are asking of them.

"We also hope that, because our buses will be very visible as a place where victims can go and report abuse, it will deter would-be abusers.”

All Stagecoach East buses now display BAA stickers with QR codes by their entrance, designating them as safe-spaces and all their buses have multiple cameras. 

The BAA scheme is now in effect on all Stagecoach East buses, throughout Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and the wider region.

Approximately 300 local businesses are part of Businesses Against Abuse, with around 3,000 people trained.

Director of the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre Norah Al Ani added: "We are really pleased to be working together on this – the training we have delivered to the Training Team so far has been a real success, and I hope that it will make a noticeable difference in our communities.

"If a woman or a girl, who is the subject of abuse, sees a Stagecoach East bus, they will now be able to recognise it as a place of safety.”

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