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NuVenture boss says Stagecoach plans to hand out spit testing kits send wrong message

Plans by a bus company to hand out spit testing kits to drivers send out a negative message to passengers and staff looking to join the industry, the boss of a rival firm has claimed.

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

Norman Kemp from NuVenture
Norman Kemp from NuVenture

As part of the scheme, 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.

However, Norman Kemp, boss of rival bus company, NuVenture, which primarily operates in west Kent, said his firm would not be following suit.

"It's not an avenue we would be prepared to go down, as it sends a signal out that drivers or passengers are at risk and that bus travel might not be safe," he said.

"Incidents like these being talked about are very rare.

Stagecoach has had to change certain services following a rise in attacks
Stagecoach has had to change certain services following a rise in attacks

"If we have an area on one of our routes that generates anti-social behaviour, we'd get the police and local authority involved and just stop running the service.

"Our staff wouldn't put up with that kind of abuse, they'd vote with their feet and would be going out the door.

"I sympathise with any bus company which has to operate in those conditions, but I think it sends out the wrong message, not just to passengers and existing staff but anyone contemplating such a career."

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

As well as issuing spit testing kits, 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.

A spokesman for Arriva, which also runs services across Kent, said: "There are currently no plans in place to issue DNA spit test kits to our drivers."

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