Safe bus for drunk and lost launched in Bournemouth (From Thisisdorset)

I'm sure the safe bus will play some part in improving community safety, but not a major part. Wouldn't cracking down on late night opening, prosecuting bars who flout the law on serving alcohol and prosecuting unruly behaviour be a better way of improving safety? Just seems that we're pampering to the revellers and letting them do what they like and the paramedics and police will pick up the pieces afterwards.

Hasn't there been one of these 'safe buses' on Horseshoe common for a while now?

Maybe the 'new' bus would have been better deployed ferrying old people through the alleged 'carnage' to the theatre so they don't have to run this 'gauntlet' we hear so much about, then the town centre can be a facility for everybody to use.

I HOPE IT'S A BIG BUS!!!!

is there any cost involved to the taxpayer? I would hope the bars are paying for this!!

The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

O'Reilly wrote:
The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Idiot post of the week



It is a refuge, a first point of call for minor injuries, distress.


It cuts down on the use of ambulances, hospital admissions and provides for a place for the police to work from

All without having the need to rent permanaent space that would only be used a few nights a week.

I can only assume that O'Reilly hasn't bothered to read the story but has simply spouted off without what limited brain power he possesses even being started up, never mind engaged.


ps as much as I think the town at the weekends is a mess - I will say that this has been a cracking idea and well done to those behind it and those staffing it

Bob49 wrote:

O'Reilly wrote:
The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Idiot post of the week



It is a refuge, a first point of call for minor injuries, distress.


It cuts down on the use of ambulances, hospital admissions and provides for a place for the police to work from

All without having the need to rent permanaent space that would only be used a few nights a week.

I can only assume that O'Reilly hasn't bothered to read the story but has simply spouted off without what limited brain power he possesses even being started up, never mind engaged.


ps as much as I think the town at the weekends is a mess - I will say that this has been a cracking idea and well done to those behind it and those staffing it

well said Bob49, I am so fed up of people moaning about things like this and in the next breath moaning about lack of community spirit. At least a few individuals are trying to help the problem of policing and overuse of the hospitals on a weekend rather than sitting moaning about it. I don't agree with the binge drinking culture and people getting hammered and causing problems, but we have it and at least something is being done to help. The bus is there for people who have gone out for a drink and need help for one reason or another not just for p***heads.

Bob49 wrote:

O'Reilly wrote:
The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Idiot post of the week



It is a refuge, a first point of call for minor injuries, distress.


It cuts down on the use of ambulances, hospital admissions and provides for a place for the police to work from

All without having the need to rent permanaent space that would only be used a few nights a week.

I can only assume that O'Reilly hasn't bothered to read the story but has simply spouted off without what limited brain power he possesses even being started up, never mind engaged.


ps as much as I think the town at the weekends is a mess - I will say that this has been a cracking idea and well done to those behind it and those staffing it

Quite right.... Spot On !

Bob49 wrote:

O'Reilly wrote:
The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Idiot post of the week



It is a refuge, a first point of call for minor injuries, distress.


It cuts down on the use of ambulances, hospital admissions and provides for a place for the police to work from

All without having the need to rent permanaent space that would only be used a few nights a week.

I can only assume that O'Reilly hasn't bothered to read the story but has simply spouted off without what limited brain power he possesses even being started up, never mind engaged.


ps as much as I think the town at the weekends is a mess - I will say that this has been a cracking idea and well done to those behind it and those staffing it

Quite right.... Spot On !

bottomsup wrote:
I'm sure the safe bus will play some part in improving community safety, but not a major part. Wouldn't cracking down on late night opening, prosecuting bars who flout the law on serving alcohol and prosecuting unruly behaviour be a better way of improving safety? Just seems that we're pampering to the revellers and letting them do what they like and the paramedics and police will pick up the pieces afterwards.

To answer this point..." Wouldn't cracking down on late night opening, prosecuting bars who flout the law on serving alcohol and prosecuting unruly behaviour be a better way of improving safety?"

Clearly not !!! How on Earth could it?

How you can miss the point that the safe bus is a fantastic idea that can only be of benefit is beyond me.....great thinking.. and good work and much respect to those running it..

By The way Bottums up.. the idea is not new its been around for some years. It has worked well... thus a new bus .

Can I use my pensioner bus pass on it...?

I think this is excellent, and will no doubt be staffed by the sort of people that do jobs for which there is no meaningful level of compensation; people who are there when you really need them, when you can't take care of yourself. Firemen, policemen, ambulancemen - if you're unlucky to find yourself in peril, and I hope you don't, when someone like that comes along with a headfull of training and no goal other than assisting you, it's a humbling experience. How much money would you be prepared to do their jobs for ? Far more than you'd ever get.
Thank you to the folks that organised and operate this - I won't ever need your services, but other people will, and not all of them will act entirely graciously in accord with how you're treating them, but I know you'll just get on and do it anyway; your presence and actions in this way, in this world make it a better place, you are truly giants among men, all the best to you.

Ivan Opinion wrote:

Bob49 wrote:

O'Reilly wrote:
The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Idiot post of the week



It is a refuge, a first point of call for minor injuries, distress.


It cuts down on the use of ambulances, hospital admissions and provides for a place for the police to work from

All without having the need to rent permanaent space that would only be used a few nights a week.

I can only assume that O'Reilly hasn't bothered to read the story but has simply spouted off without what limited brain power he possesses even being started up, never mind engaged.


ps as much as I think the town at the weekends is a mess - I will say that this has been a cracking idea and well done to those behind it and those staffing it

Quite right.... Spot On !

I agree. This will save A&E getting clogged up with quite so many drunks and should save a great deal of police time.

I wish people would think a little before spouting off their Daily Mail knee jerk opinions.

Good luck and thank you to all of those staffing this and doing a job I wouldn't like to do.

Good idea, but why confine this bus's use to picking up the confused, crazed, tired and emotional souls at Horseshoe Common. The people who allowed Bournemouth to sink this low must surely be in a similar state - next stop, the Town Hall.

a better way would be to up the age from 18 to 21. It's more often than not the younger people who cant handle their emotions after a few drinks getting into trouble. It would also remind them they are still children and maybe help college / university numbers go up or at least save a few people from getting thrown out. Would not be popular but would help change our culture and close a few dodgy bars too

They're not lost, they're in the booze bus in Bournemouth.

Anyone who thinks this is a bad idea is crazy. Yes there's possibly too much rowdiness and drinking in town, it's a culture change that is needed and that won't happen overnight. In the meantime this provides a safer haven for people who might be otherwise vulnerable following too much to drink. You never know when you're children, grandchildren or friends children might need the protection of a function like this (although I'm sure most of the people adding negative comments don't have one single person in their family who has drunk too much at one point in their lives).

gary1975 wrote:
a better way would be to up the age from 18 to 21. It's more often than not the younger people who cant handle their emotions after a few drinks getting into trouble. It would also remind them they are still children and maybe help college / university numbers go up or at least save a few people from getting thrown out. Would not be popular but would help change our culture and close a few dodgy bars too

Have you been to Bournemouth on a Friday/Saturday night? It's not students out it's adults (including plenty over 21), many in hen and stag dos, who are causing the problems.

Students don't go out on the weekend because it's too expensive for them; you need to have a full time paying job to be able to afford Bournemouth weekend prices!

The problem isn't all about age it's about a culture, which spans the ages judging by Bournemouth on a Saturday night, where you drink as much as possible as quickly as possible for as little money as possible. People pre drink a bottle of wine or two to WARM UP for the night and inevitably by the time they get to town and have a few more drinks they're completely wasted and can't control themselves or behave sensibly.

There isn't an overnight solution to Britain's binge drinking culture but the Safe Bus at least picks up the pieces and prevents it from having such a bad impact on people who aren't involved (keeping A & E from being full, stopping police time in the week being wasted taking statements, etc).

tricky1007 wrote:
is there any cost involved to the taxpayer? I would hope the bars are paying for this!!

If it's being run by Dorset Police then you, I and our neighbours are paying for this to 'help' those who are incapable of being responsible for their own actions.

Can anyone name any other country where there would be a need for the public to support drunk and disorderly revellers?

What Bournemouth needs is a giant lock up aside from the normal cells, bung 'em all in there and forget about them til lunchtime next day.

muscliffman wrote:
Good idea, but why confine this bus's use to picking up the confused, crazed, tired and emotional souls at Horseshoe Common. The people who allowed Bournemouth to sink this low must surely be in a similar state - next stop, the Town Hall.

They'd better buy an old dust cart for the people at the town hall.

Bob49 wrote:

O'Reilly wrote: The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Idiot post of the week It is a refuge, a first point of call for minor injuries, distress. It cuts down on the use of ambulances, hospital admissions and provides for a place for the police to work from All without having the need to rent permanaent space that would only be used a few nights a week. I can only assume that O'Reilly hasn't bothered to read the story but has simply spouted off without what limited brain power he possesses even being started up, never mind engaged. ps as much as I think the town at the weekends is a mess - I will say that this has been a cracking idea and well done to those behind it and those staffing it

I agree with Bob49. There's far more deserving cases around than legless latenight revellers that have had a few too many alco-pops and have fallen over and grazed their knees on the way to urinate in some shop doorways and smash shop windows. 'Provides a place for police to work from" - even a 5 year old knows that policemen work in a police station......

sea poole wrote:
Can I use my pensioner bus pass on it...?

Yes, but only if you're smashed out your face.

Bourne1979 wrote:
Anyone who thinks this is a bad idea is crazy. Yes there's possibly too much rowdiness and drinking in town, it's a culture change that is needed and that won't happen overnight. In the meantime this provides a safer haven for people who might be otherwise vulnerable following too much to drink. You never know when you're children, grandchildren or friends children might need the protection of a function like this (although I'm sure most of the people adding negative comments don't have one single person in their family who has drunk too much at one point in their lives).

I'm crazy.

To all the geremiads on this thread, consider the fiollowing. If you smoke, and get ill as a result, there's a place called a hospital where the taxpayer picks up the expensive tab for your self-inflicted stupidity. Likewise if you take drugs. Likewise if you over-eat and get morbidly obese. Likewise if you drive too fast and wrap your car around a tree. Any of these feel familiar?

We all do stupid things that harm us. And often we expect the state to pick up the financial consequences. If the booze bus is reducing that reliance on the state, great idea, let's build them into a nationwide fleet.

Doesn't really address the root of the problem does it!

Letcommonsenseprevai
l wrote:

Bob49 wrote:

O'Reilly wrote: The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Idiot post of the week It is a refuge, a first point of call for minor injuries, distress. It cuts down on the use of ambulances, hospital admissions and provides for a place for the police to work from All without having the need to rent permanaent space that would only be used a few nights a week. I can only assume that O'Reilly hasn't bothered to read the story but has simply spouted off without what limited brain power he possesses even being started up, never mind engaged. ps as much as I think the town at the weekends is a mess - I will say that this has been a cracking idea and well done to those behind it and those staffing it

I agree with Bob49. There's far more deserving cases around than legless latenight revellers that have had a few too many alco-pops and have fallen over and grazed their knees on the way to urinate in some shop doorways and smash shop windows. 'Provides a place for police to work from" - even a 5 year old knows that policemen work in a police station......

The safebus is an amazing facility.

But just to let everyone know, it doesn't take people anywhere! It parks up in Horseshoe Common and people can then come on, they get treated and then leave....the bus doesn't actually take them!

I'm sure the bus deals with a great deal of intoxicated people.....however, it also deals with confused people (elderly, mental health problems etc) and if someone gets assaulted, they can go there too. They an get medical assistance and get a statement taken by police....so the comment made about 5yr olds knowing police work from a station is absurd. Yes, they do, but at least they have the space to take a private statement on the bus.

How anyone can slate this service is beyond me! As far as I'm aware there is a police officer on the bus as well as a paramedic (who would be on duty anyway) and the rest are volunteers! They spend their Friday and Saturday nights helping other people out.

I think the safebus needs more positive promotion so people know its there!

Mike Pickering wrote:
I think this is excellent, and will no doubt be staffed by the sort of people that do jobs for which there is no meaningful level of compensation; people who are there when you really need them, when you can't take care of yourself. Firemen, policemen, ambulancemen - if you're unlucky to find yourself in peril, and I hope you don't, when someone like that comes along with a headfull of training and no goal other than assisting you, it's a humbling experience. How much money would you be prepared to do their jobs for ? Far more than you'd ever get.
Thank you to the folks that organised and operate this - I won't ever need your services, but other people will, and not all of them will act entirely graciously in accord with how you're treating them, but I know you'll just get on and do it anyway; your presence and actions in this way, in this world make it a better place, you are truly giants among men, all the best to you.

'firemen, policemen, ambulancemen'???

In 2012 we have firefighters, police officers and paramedics...and their jobs do not revolve around the nightlife of this town.

The safe bus is a great idea and should be supported- people shouldn't complain about the problem if they're not willing to try to find ways of ameliorating it.

I can feel a kebab comin on, and it's not even Friday yet.

Ivan Opinion wrote:

bottomsup wrote:
I'm sure the safe bus will play some part in improving community safety, but not a major part. Wouldn't cracking down on late night opening, prosecuting bars who flout the law on serving alcohol and prosecuting unruly behaviour be a better way of improving safety? Just seems that we're pampering to the revellers and letting them do what they like and the paramedics and police will pick up the pieces afterwards.

To answer this point..." Wouldn't cracking down on late night opening, prosecuting bars who flout the law on serving alcohol and prosecuting unruly behaviour be a better way of improving safety?"

Clearly not !!! How on Earth could it?

How you can miss the point that the safe bus is a fantastic idea that can only be of benefit is beyond me.....great thinking.. and good work and much respect to those running it..

By The way Bottums up.. the idea is not new its been around for some years. It has worked well... thus a new bus .

I don't think I did miss the point ... I was questioning whether the safe bus would play a MAJOR part in improving community safety as claimed in the article. My point was, are there other things that can be done (such as prosecution, etc) which would play a bigger part than a safe bus. I'm sure the safe bus has done and will continue to play SOME part in improving community safety, but isn't it time those in authority actually did something about the crime, drinking, abuse, drink-fuelled behaviour that we read about almost every week in the paper?

O'Reilly wrote:
The Nanny State operating at its best and at Council Taxpayers expense of course. If you can afford to get P*SS*D.....you can afford a taxi home.

Thats the best comment,why the hell should law abiding people,have to fund their own expenses,and toerags get support.