Inside Plymouth Safe Bus

An insight into the work of Plymouth Safe Bus has been shared by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez in the latest episode of her podcast, highlighting how the initiative is helping keep people safe during nights out in the city centre.

The specially adapted bus was introduced two years ago to support people enjoying Plymouth’s night-time economy while also relieving pressure on emergency services. Staffed by paramedics, security guards and supported by nearby taxi marshals, the bus is stationed at Derry’s Cross Roundabout every Saturday from 10pm until 4am.

During the busy festive period in December, the service was extended to operate on Friday nights. To help keep the bus running, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has provided £10,000 in funding.

Since April 2024, more than 1,070 people have received support from the Plymouth Safe Bus team, with over 600 requiring medical assistance. Clinical care on board is provided by paramedics from Western Medical Services (WMS), funded through the NHS.

Will Price, a paramedic and founder of WMS, appeared as a guest on the second episode of the new podcast series Your VIP (Your Voice in Policing), hosted by Commissioner Hernandez. The episode was filmed on Plymouth Hoe from the OPCC engagement van and explored how the bus supports vulnerable people of all ages.

Explaining the role of the service, Mr Price said: “There's many things the safe bus can help with, whether it be welfare provision such as somewhere to sit, stay warm, keep dry and feel safe or providing a bottle of water.

“People do get too intoxicated or maybe something breaks out, whether it be a fight or something outside of their control. Our role is to try and prevent those people going to hospital by looking after them.

“We have clinicians on board who are able to assess them or refer them on to alternative care, whether that be the hospital, their GP or a pharmacist, or it could be safeguarding referral.

“A lot of the individuals we help are aged between the 18 to 30 which is probably to be expected with the environment we're working in. But we've seen individuals over the age of 75, so there really is a broad spectrum of individuals that are coming into the bus.”

Plymouth Safe Bus was established by Devon & Cornwall Police in partnership with organisations including Plymouth City Council, the University of Plymouth, Safer Streets, Victim Support, Best Bar None, the NHS and WMS.

The city has also been awarded Purple Flag accreditation for the sixth consecutive year, recognising high standards in the evening and night-time economy between 5pm and 5am. The safe bus was among the initiatives praised as part of the assessment.

The podcast also features PC Deb Hart, who manages and runs the safe bus as part of her role as Plymouth’s youth engagement and community safety partnership constable. She said: “The additional OPCC funding for the bus this year will go towards its general maintenance costs, emergency clothing and has enabled us to install a toilet cubicle to screen any patients who think they may have been spiked.”

She added: “The police are able to refer people to the bus if they come across an individual that may need that safe space, a phone charge, have lost sight of their friend, feel they've had a bit too much to drink or they need some medical attention.

“If the safe bus wasn't there that would put more pressure on our frontline officers out and about.”

Highlighting the importance of partnership working, Commissioner Hernandez said: “Plymouth is a welcoming city and is well-known for its night-time economy. Everyone works really hard, whether it's the business community with Best Bar None raising the standards in each of the bars, whether it's the council who have been supporting the safe bus as well, or the street marshals and police doing their patrols.

“Everybody's working together to make sure everybody has a really good night and that they can have it safely.

“The bus provides reassurance to people that no matter what happens on a night out, there's always going to be somebody there to help.”

Councillor Sally Haydon, cabinet member for community safety, also voiced her support for the initiative. She said: “The safe bus is really important to our night time economy.

“I would like to thank the Commissioner for helping to support some funding towards it because we've been able to upgrade the safe bus to give some better facilities to help people who are out and about to enjoy a very good night time economy.”

She added: “We've been able to do this through partnership working which is really important.”

Funding for the paramedics on board the safe bus is provided by the NHS. An NHS spokesperson said: “The Safe Bus is an integral part of the night time economy in Plymouth, providing medical assistance, welfare support and a safe space to those who need it. It is also a vital part of the NHS, providing an alternative for people other than calling 999 and attending the Emergency Department.

“It is great to see such a strong collaborative approach to supporting those who enjoy the night life in Plymouth and we are incredibly proud to be a part of it."

In addition to supporting Plymouth Safe Bus, the OPCC is also the main funder of a Saturday night bus service across Devon and Cornwall, providing safe transport for night-time economy workers, shift workers and late-night travellers until 4am. Since May 2025, 16,201 passengers have used the service, paying a maximum fare of £3, with an average of 530 passengers travelling each Saturday night.

From Saturday, January 10, a new route between Exeter and Cranbrook will be introduced following additional OPCC funding. Further information about Saturday night bus services in Devon is available via the Stagecoach website and app.