Norwich MPs look to find a First Bus inspector solution

And now a crisis meeting has been arranged between an MP and the firm to bash out a compromise.

Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, called on the city’s biggest bus operator to stop throwing passengers off buses if they have clear evidence they paid for a ticket.

And Alice Macdonald, MP for Norwich North, said that she has been contacted by several constituents about the issue and is in touch with the company in regards to these problems.

First Bus has been under fire since bringing in black-clad revenue protection officers (RPOs) last March, who passengers say have been rude and aggressive when enforcing the company’s ticket rules. 

The bus firm, however, has counteracted these claims saying that the officers are being regularly monitored and no evidence has been found that they have behaved inappropriately.

Mr Harrison was kicked off of a 21 Orange Line service to City College Norwich (Image: Newsquest) MP MEETING WITH FIRST BUS

Mr Lewis said: “It’s enough of a struggle to get people to use public transport, instead of private vehicles, so this kind of heavy-handed behaviour makes it even more difficult.

“Surely this is extremely simple? The bus company needs to stop throwing off the bus, people who have clearly got evidence they have paid for a ticket.

“Making public transport more attractive to people is essential if we are to battle climate breakdown, pollution and congestion around the city.

“We won’t be able to properly tackle this if we don’t better encourage people to use public transport in the first place.”

Meanwhile, Ms Macdonald said she is due to meet with the company next week to resolve the problems.

She said: "I have been contacted by several constituents about this issue.

Norwich South MP, Clive Lewis, said the bus company needs to stop throwing off the bus (Image: Newsquest)

“My office has already been in touch with First Bus regarding these problems and I will be meeting with them next week to discuss this further in order to find a solution that allows passengers a pleasant journey while using public transport and enables inspectors to work in a safe environment."

DISPUTE OVER STUDENT PASS

The MPs involvement comes after a student said he had been thrown off a bus by inspectors when using a student pass because he did not have the correct form of ID, despite having a provisional driving license to prove his identity.

Mr Harrison, 18, a pupil at City College Norwich who wishes to remain partially anonymous, said: "I presented the inspectors my bus pass and they demanded to see my college ID to prove it was mine.

"I didn't have it on me but I had my provisional driver's license which shows my picture and name but they said it wasn't proof I was actually a student.

"They asked if I had a UniDays or Student Beans profile but when I showed them they rejected them.

"I then offered to call my college to confirm that I am a student but they said no and fined me £50 and told me to get off."

Mr Harrison said he already felt embarrassed about the situation but claimed the inspectors made it worse by announcing to everyone else on the bus that he had been fined.

First Bus has come under fire for its implementation of ticket inspectors (Image: Arthur Maskell)

"They escorted me off while telling everyone I didn't have a valid ticket even though I had multiple forms of proof," he added.

WHAT DOES FIRST BUS SAY?

A First spokeswoman said: "It is a condition of using a discounted ticket that you carry the relevant entitlement ID card.

"In the case of the University of East Anglia, this is your student ID card. No other forms of ID are accepted.

"We see many cases of passengers using other people's discounted tickets, this is ticket fraud, and enforcing the carrying of entitlement ID is the only way of tackling it.

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"If you are travelling with a discounted ticket and have forgotten to bring the relevant ID with you, you should purchase a full-price ticket for your journey as your discounted ticket is invalid."

Norwich North MP, Alice Macdonald, said she's been contacted by several constituents about this issue (Image: Newsquest)

The spokeswoman added: "There is an appeal process for those who feel they have been incorrectly issued with a standard fare charge.

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"However, if you have not followed the conditions of travel, your appeal will not be successful."

Mr Harrison did appeal the fine but it was denied within an hour.

I was really surprised with how quickly my appeal was denied," he said.

"I provided my City College pass and everything, it makes no sense.

"Their treatment of me was horrible and I know people who have seen year sevens get kicked off First buses for the same reason."

First's own guidelines state Mr Harrison should not have been able to get on the bus without his student ID in the first place (Image: First)