Police in Hove are hopping on late-night buses to prevent youngsters

misbehaving.

The idea was born on New Year's Eve when Sergeant Jayne Gooding was travelling back to Hove police station by bus.

She said: "I chatted to a woman who said she was terrified to travel alone on buses at night. Everyone on the bus that night was good natured but I thought it was a shame someone was so nervous."

The new police operation is called Varney after the actor Reg Varney who played Butler the conductor in the hit TV series On The Buses.

The aim is to reduce the fear of crime on buses and warn people travelling late at night that vandalism, hooliganism and intimidation will not be tolerated.

Officers in full uniform will be travelling on buses from Brighton to Hove, Mile Oak and Shoreham and throughout the Hove/Shoreham police division area through to the early hours of the morning, especially at weekends.

Ms Gooding said: "We will be sitting with passengers, chatting to them and discussing any issues they may have. Officers will be hopping on anywhere in the area and there will be no set times."

Ms Gooding said the operation was in response to public demand: "We are listening to what people are saying."

The initiative has been welcomed by the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company.

Roger French, the company's managing director, said: "Full marks to the police and I am very pleased with the idea. It is a great step forward and we are offering every encouragement to them.

"That said, I must say there is more a fear of trouble on late-night buses than a reality.

"Many hundreds of people travel late at night and never encounter any problems."

Police in Hove are already being encouraged to use buses to travel to non-urgent appointments during the day to raise the profile of policing in the area, to reassure the public and reduce street crime.