Five teenagers were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage following a number incidents on buses in Liverpool.
Officers arrested three boys aged 13 years, 14 years and 15 years from Huyton, a 14-year-old girl from Huyton and 15-year-old girl from Halewood all on suspicion of criminal damage to a bus. Three of the group have also been arrested for a second act of criminal damage to a bus. All five suspects remain in police custody.
The arrests come after a "day in action" on Friday, April 1. This was in response to reports of more than 18 incidents on the transport network in the past several weeks where a reported £100,000 damage has been caused to Arriva buses. Windows were kicked out or smashed, seats destroyed and burnt, and a passenger reportedly assaulted, police said.
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The day of action involved officers patrolling bus routes, a mobile police station was located at Huyton bus terminal so members of the public could raise any concerns they may have. Land searches were also carried out where offenders are believed to have stored implements used to cause the damage.
The majority of incidents have taken place on the 10b bus route, with some incidents on the 14, 15 and 7 buses. A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Such devastation had resulted in Arriva suspending some bus services of the number 10b from travelling to Huyton, however a full service has now resumed.
"Merseyside Police is working with Arriva, Merseytravel and Knowsley Council to tackle the issue, and has visited schools in the area."
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