Bus shelter vandals hit by spy cameras

Hidden CCTV cameras in bus shelters across the West Midlands have halved number that are smashed up by yobs, latest figures reveal.

Transport authority Centro has revealed the number of glass breakages at 43 problem spots across the region dramatically fell from 1,109 between June 2005 and 2006 to 578 from June 2006 to February 2008 - a period of more than 18 months. The cost of repairs fell from £43,755 to £14,319 - prompting calls for the scheme to be rolled out further.

A two-year trial of the shelters comes to an end in June and bosses will decide whether or not to put CCTV cameras at more stops.

Across the West Midlands more than 10 shelters are vandalised each day, costing £500,000 to repair.

Locations of shelters with CCTV are kept secret by Centro to avoid yobs learning to keep out of sight when going on wrecking sprees.

Known hotspots are targeted by police, who do not want to tip the culprits off that they are being watched.

The transport authority has to fork out for between seven and 10 panes of glass every day as a result of repeated attacks.

Wolverhampton Conservative leader and transport spokesman Councillor Neville Patten said: "These figures show CCTV has had a positive effect and I would like to see it put into more shelters.

"It saves the taxpayer money and it makes passengers feel safer."

Wednesfield North councillor Phil Bateman said he had received official figures which showed just two bus shelters at the corner of Peacock Avenue and Lichfield Road in the city had cost more than £2,000 in repairs because of vandals over two years.

He said: "It is pleasing a strategy to reduce vandalism appears to be working and I would love to see it operating at shelters in Wednesfield North."

Centro spokeswoman Babs Coombes said: "The cost of running CCTV and maintaining it is significantly less than the money we have saved by having it there."

Centro manages 10,000 shelters across the region.