SIPTU is calling for the immediate introduction of a dedicated transport police to tackle growing anti-social behaviour on Dublin Bus services, following alarming figures showing record levels of abuse and violence.
According to Dublin Bus, “anti-social behaviour continues to be a major issue” despite the presence of private security guards introduced last year. The company recorded over 1,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour in 2024, with this year’s figures on track to match or even exceed that record.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation was markedly different. In 2019, there were fewer than 500 recorded incidents, but that number more than doubled to 1,033 by 2023, and rose again to 1,054 last year, marking the highest on record.
Last October, Dublin Bus launched a pilot programme deploying security guards on select routes. The initiative has since been expanded, increasing the number of teams from two to three, but the company says incidents remain unacceptably high.
Bus driver Ciara Pender described the daily reality of working on the front lines of the service. “I’ve had eggs thrown at me. I’ve had violence on the bus. I’ve been called names. I’ve had youths smash the windows with the emergency hammer on the bus,” she said.
Pender added that the abuse affects both drivers and passengers: “You get a bit of a fright, but most of the time it’s not really directed towards you — it’s something that just happens. But it completely impacts the whole service. Passengers don’t understand that your next bus is not going to arrive because of anti-social behaviour.”
She believes the presence of safety personnel makes a visible difference. “When the safety team come on board, it has a huge impact. You can actually feel their presence, which makes everyone relax, so it’d be fantastic to have more of that in the near future.”
At Dublin Bus Central Control in Broadstone Depot, controllers coordinate with drivers across the network, making around 500 calls per shift. Some areas, the company says, face ongoing and repeated issues.
Operations Manager Bernard Fox outlined the scale of the problem: “The main issue we see is stone-throwing, fights on buses, drugs, alcohol and even pickpocketing. The impact is that our services can be withdrawn from an area for an hour, or even for the rest of the day. It’s a big, big impact for our customers, and we don’t take it lightly.”
Dublin Bus Director of Risk Management, David Boyd, said the company supports the Government’s plan to establish a transport police force but wants the timeline accelerated. “We’d like to see the introduction of the transport security force as soon as possible, ideally in 2026. Ultimately, we’re a bus company — we’re not a security company,” he said.
The Department of Transport confirmed that it intends to move quickly. In a statement, it said it has invested over €11 million in public transport safety this year and that legislation to establish the new Transport Security Force is expected to progress in 2026, with the force operational by 2027.
“Minister Darragh O’Brien is actively progressing the legislative proposals required to deliver on the Government’s commitment,” the statement said. “This work involves engagement with the NTA, operators, trade unions, passenger groups, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice.”
Meanwhile, a new SIPTU survey of 200 public transport workers paints a stark picture of conditions on the ground. 94% of respondents reported experiencing anti-social or abusive behaviour, with more than a quarter suffering physical abuse and one in five subjected to racial abuse.
Over 60% said the situation has worsened in the past year, while only 1.5% felt it had improved.
SIPTU Sector Organiser John Murphy said workers are ready to collaborate with all parties to make the new transport police a reality. “The lack of a visible policing presence on public transport is compounding the problem,” he said. “Our members are willing to work with all stakeholders to ensure this force is established as quickly as possible.”
As calls intensify from unions and operators alike, both Dublin Bus and SIPTU are urging the Government to act decisively — before record levels of anti-social behaviour become the norm on Ireland’s public transport network.
