TRANSPORT chiefs in London have disputed suggestions allowing under-16s to travel free on the capital's buses has increased disorder problems.
Transport for London (TfL) was commenting on a report by the London Assembly's transport committee.
This claimed figures showed a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour since free travel was introduced in September 2005.
But TfL says crime rates on the buses are the lowest since 2004 and are lower than when the free travel concession was introduced.
It says there are now only 15 crimes for every million passengers and "the vast majority of our passengers are unlikely ever to be a victim of crime on a London bus".
TfL claims the majority of driver reports are not about anti-social behaviour and says the London Assembly report has seriously underestimated the impact of CCTV and visible policing.
It says a recent survey has shown 95 per cent of passengers feel safe travelling on a London bus.
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