Solutions and Best Practice

Bus Security Solutions

This table of bus security solutions has been developed in the SAFE BUS project as guide for bus managers and drivers. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of measures and solutions that could enhance safety and security in public bus networks.

Assessment and planning ➜

Vulnerability assessment Risk and vulnerability assessments help bus operators identify potential weaknesses and prioritise investment in upgrading their facilities. These assessments should be regularly repeated to reflect structural changes or construction activities, as well to be aligned with the emergence of new threats and development of modus operandi. It is important not to limit risk and vulnerability assessment to critical assets, but also to consider public spaces needed for the operation of bus services.	COUNTERACT risk and vulnerability assessments Threat monitor
Security plan All relevant business assets need a security plan, this includes restricted facilities, such as control rooms or depots, as well as publicly accessible locations. Special security plans need to be prepared for specific events, when passenger numbers and flow are expected to differ from the daily routine.	Security audits Station security plan Depot security plan Event security plan
Security organisation Depending on the size of the organisation and the complexity of the bus operation, the security organisation needs to comprise several levels, looking at strategic and operational aspects. Dedicated persons need to be assigned the responsibility of coordinating and implementing security measures as defined in the security plan	Corporate security organisation Operational security organisation
Crisis management plan Given the complexity of transport systems and the flexibility of bus operations, crisis management comprises the handling of a crisis itself, but also managing the impact of a crisis at one location on the rest of the operation. Having to deal with a crisis does not mean an automatic shut-down of the entire operation as too many people depend on the availability Crisis management plans need to address handling the actual crisis, adapting and re-routing services where possible and informing passengers about available services	Crisis cell Crisis management plan Crisis communication plan

Assessment and training ➜

Public awareness campaigns Given the complexity of bus systems, largely public access and the high number of passengers frequenting vehicles and infrastructure, passenger can play an important role in protecting bus operations. Situational awareness can help an early detection of threats and knowing how to react in the case of an attack can aid the crisis management. Being alert for suspicious situations and being familiar with existing emergency and support tools can help preventing the escalation of any potential danger. It is important to find the right balance in public awareness campaigns, encouraging support, but not scaring	Hotlines and specific reporting numbers Reporting apps and text message options Posters and stickers Educational campaigns
Security awareness and culture It is key to acknowledge that security is not only the task of security managers and staff, but that every employee in every position has a role to play	Awareness programmes Targeted campaigns Handouts and handbooks
Insider threat awareness Like every organisation, also bus operators may be threatened by an insider. This could be countered by a careful selection of staff to be employed, by defining clear procedures for work and instilling the discipline to follow those procedures and encouraging staff to be vigilant for suspicious behaviour	Criticality analysis of staff positions Background checks and vetting Insider threat awareness training Awareness campaigns Credential management
Security training Security in bus operation is the responsibility of all staff members. Training programmes need to clarify the role and responsibility of staff at every position and provide employees with the expertise need for their job. Their focus of their training would also include preventing sabotage, theft, or vandalism. An additional focus for control room staff is the handling of emergency calls or incoming threats and potential activation of security protocols	Initial operational security training Recurrent operational security training Security management training
Security exercises Regular security exercises help monitor the level of preparedness within an organisation and understand shortcomings and vulnerabilities	Internal table-top exercises Table-top exercises with external partners Live exercises

Physical Protection ➜

Design Resilient assets are a corner stone for the protection bus systems. Standards and guidelines for layout and material have evolved a lot during recent years and are followed for new structures or the upgrading of existing facilities and equipment. In general, however, public transport systems are not new and involve legacy infrastructure directly embedded into the public space	Clear lines of sight Facility layout with functional separation Adequate lighting Locks and seals Clear plastic sacks Physical barriers Glazing protection Driver cabins
Barriers and access control Access control to restricted facilities and equipment aims to ensure that only authorised personnel and material can enter a site. All doors between public and restricted areas should be locked or controlled	Access gates Check-in procedures Badges and permit policy Bus hand-over procedure Smart bus ignition locks Passenger- baggage reconciliation X-ray screening Front-door boarding Boarding procedure coaches Passenger- baggage reconciliation coaches
CCTV with video and audio recording	CCTV with video and audio recording CCTV with real time monitoring Video analytics Body cameras Microwave imaging curtains Spectroscopy technology SOS intercoms Driver alarm buttons AVM systems Geofencing

Cooperation ➜

1. Clear points of contact and regular exchange
2. Common situational awareness
3. Dedicated intervention support
4. Joint prevention initiatives
5. Intelligence and information sharing

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Solutions and best practice

Assessment and planning ➜

Vulnerability assessment Risk and vulnerability assessments help bus operators identify potential weaknesses and prioritise investment in upgrading their facilities. These assessments should be regularly repeated to reflect structural changes or construction activities, as well to be aligned with the emergence of new threats and development of modus operandi. It is important not to limit risk and vulnerability assessment to critical assets, but also to consider public spaces needed for the operation of bus services.	COUNTERACT risk and vulnerability assessments Threat monitor
Security plan All relevant business assets need a security plan, this includes restricted facilities, such as control rooms or depots, as well as publicly accessible locations. Special security plans need to be prepared for specific events, when passenger numbers and flow are expected to differ from the daily routine.	Security audits Station security plan Depot security plan Event security plan
Security organisation Depending on the size of the organisation and the complexity of the bus operation, the security organisation needs to comprise several levels, looking at strategic and operational aspects. Dedicated persons need to be assigned the responsibility of coordinating and implementing security measures as defined in the security plan	Corporate security organisation Operational security organisation
Crisis management plan Given the complexity of transport systems and the flexibility of bus operations, crisis management comprises the handling of a crisis itself, but also managing the impact of a crisis at one location on the rest of the operation. Having to deal with a crisis does not mean an automatic shut-down of the entire operation as too many people depend on the availability Crisis management plans need to address handling the actual crisis, adapting and re-routing services where possible and informing passengers about available services	Crisis cell Crisis management plan Crisis communication plan

Assessment and tranning ➜

Public awareness campaigns Given the complexity of bus systems, largely public access and the high number of passengers frequenting vehicles and infrastructure, passenger can play an important role in protecting bus operations. Situational awareness can help an early detection of threats and knowing how to react in the case of an attack can aid the crisis management. Being alert for suspicious situations and being familiar with existing emergency and support tools can help preventing the escalation of any potential danger. It is important to find the right balance in public awareness campaigns, encouraging support, but not scaring	Hotlines and specific reporting numbers Reporting apps and text message options Posters and stickers Educational campaigns
Security awareness and culture It is key to acknowledge that security is not only the task of security managers and staff, but that every employee in every position has a role to play	Awareness programmes Targeted campaigns Handouts and handbooks
Insider threat awareness Like every organisation, also bus operators may be threatened by an insider. This could be countered by a careful selection of staff to be employed, by defining clear procedures for work and instilling the discipline to follow those procedures and encouraging staff to be vigilant for suspicious behaviour	Criticality analysis of staff positions Background checks and vetting Insider threat awareness training Awareness campaigns Credential management
Security training Security in bus operation is the responsibility of all staff members. Training programmes need to clarify the role and responsibility of staff at every position and provide employees with the expertise need for their job. Their focus of their training would also include preventing sabotage, theft, or vandalism. An additional focus for control room staff is the handling of emergency calls or incoming threats and potential activation of security protocols	Initial operational security training Recurrent operational security training Security management training
Security exercises Regular security exercises help monitor the level of preparedness within an organisation and understand shortcomings and vulnerabilities	Internal table-top exercises Table-top exercises with external partners Live exercises

Physical Protection ➜

Design Resilient assets are a corner stone for the protection bus systems. Standards and guidelines for layout and material have evolved a lot during recent years and are followed for new structures or the upgrading of existing facilities and equipment. In general, however, public transport systems are not new and involve legacy infrastructure directly embedded into the public space	Clear lines of sight Facility layout with functional separation Adequate lighting Locks and seals Clear plastic sacks Physical barriers Glazing protection Driver cabins
Barriers and access control Access control to restricted facilities and equipment aims to ensure that only authorised personnel and material can enter a site. All doors between public and restricted areas should be locked or controlled	Access gates Check-in procedures Badges and permit policy Bus hand-over procedure Smart bus ignition locks Passenger- baggage reconciliation X-ray screening Front-door boarding Boarding procedure coaches Passenger- baggage reconciliation coaches
CCTV with video and audio recording	CCTV with video and audio recording CCTV with real time monitoring Video analytics Body cameras Microwave imaging curtains Spectroscopy technology SOS intercoms Driver alarm buttons AVM systems Geofencing

Cooperation ➜

1. Clear points of contact and regular exchange
2. Common situational awareness
3. Dedicated intervention support
4. Joint prevention initiatives
5. Intelligence and information sharing

CONTACT

Questions or feedback? We’d love to hear from you!
Please contact Project Manager Carmela Canonico
carmela.canonico@uitp.org

Rue Sainte-Marie 6,
B-1080 Brussels, Belgium

Hello@safebus.eu
www.uitp.org
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This project was funded by the European Union’s Internal Security Fund – Police, under the Grant Agreement No. 101034233