A bus company is offering drivers mental health support and spit testing kits after a spate of recent attacks.

Canterbury-based Stagecoach South East has launched a zero tolerance campaign to help protect its staff and look after customers.

Drivers are to be issued with 'spit kits' – mini DNA recovery sets which include gloves, swabs and a sealed bag – allowing staff to take samples before sending them for testing and helping police track down anyone who spits at them or their passengers.

It follows a spate of recent incidents which has seen passengers kick bus doors, shout, swear and challenge drivers to fights.

One recent attack at a Canterbury bus station left a driver needing nine stitches after a pedestrian punched him so hard his teeth cut into his cheek.

The driver, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I went to help a female colleague who was trying to explain to a man that he couldn’t wander up and down where the buses stop and load – it’s dangerous.

"I explained that he needed to move onto the path for his own safety but he looked away and then swung back, punching me in the jaw.

“I needed three weeks off work to heal and recover but I still get pains, especially when it’s cold.

"I definitely feel more anxious about driving into the bus station now, particularly at night, but I won’t let what he did affect the rest of my life or the way I do my job.”

Last year the company confirmed it had cut night services to a housing estate in Ashford after a number of threatening incidents.

This included one incident – which took place on the Bridgefield estate – involved a teenager who threatened a driver after his request to take a bus for a spin was denied.

The operator runs services across the county, covering Ashford, Canterbury, Chatham, Deal, Dover, Faversham, Folkestone, Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Thanet and Tunbridge Wells.

It recently introduced a telephone counselling service which enables all staff 24/7 access to experienced and professional counsellors.

Workers can attend up to six face-to-face sessions to help them feel reassured.

The company has also teamed up with the Red Cross to offer interactive mental wellbeing and resilience courses to managers and workers.

Stagecoach South East’s Managing Director Joel Mitchell, said: “We have an opportunity to work together to provide a fantastic bus service for our community and we want our customers to be part of it.

"There’s a lack of kindness in the world at the moment and we want to change that.

“We’re hearing more and more stories from our drivers about the abuse they receive when they’re simply doing their job.

"Nobody should have to go to work worrying about whether they’ll get hurt, sworn at or spat on. These incidents are just not acceptable, so we’ve decided to take action.

“We want to make sure our colleagues and passengers feel safe when they’re travelling. People are at the heart of our business so it’s important we look after them.”

Managing director Joel Mitchell talks about the Zero Tolerance campaign

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