THE Newquay night bus service provided to help keep partygoers safe over the summer has been hailed a “great success.”

First bus company helped 659 passengers on a circular route travel between Newquay and its bus station, St Columb Major and Indian Queens on the Saturday night and Sunday morning service from July 6 to September 7.

Devon and Cornwall Police introduced the service, which charged a minimum fare of £2 for a single ticket, to reduce drink and drug-related incidents, as well as anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls.

Traditionally during the summer months and longer evenings police record more crime offences, especially as the population increases due to holidaymakers.

There was a 10 per cent decrease in offences in Newquay. Drink driving offences also reduced compared to the same time last summer.

Sergeant Dave Flynn, of Devon & Cornwall Police, said: “This initiative was a great success and we are pleased that so many people used the bus services.

“This means we recorded fewer offences and more people were kept safe from harm. It is difficult to know how many crimes we managed to prevent but it is heartening that those on a night out in Newquay felt confident and reassured to use this handy form of public transport.

“Local CCTV operators also reported that the town centre areas cleared of people more quickly once pubs and clubs had closed, thanks to the bus services.”

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, who is chair of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, said: “The bus service offered people of all ages the opportunity to leave their cars at home, safe in the knowledge they have a cheap and convenient way of getting home safely – right up until the early hours of the morning.

“I’m committed to improving female safety and tackling the scourge of violence in our communities, whether in the home or in public places.

“Getting home safely, whether from work or a night out in town, should not be a nice-to-have, it should be a given.

“All women and girls deserve to stay safe at night and feel confident that their safety is our concern.”

The bus service also operated in North Devon, which was provided by Stagecoach and covered Bideford, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe, carrying a total of 1,485 passengers.

The scheme was funded by Devon County Council, North Devon Council, Torridge District Council, Cornwall Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and independent charity Crimestoppers.

Police and their partners are hopeful that they will obtain the funding required to run the night bus services again in the future.