BOBBIES will be able to take a free ride on the buses in a bid to stamp out anti-social behaviour and bring reassurance to passengers.

Services in Gwent are included in the all-Wales scheme, due to be launched tomorrow, which allows free travel on local buses for all uniformed police and community support officers.

Gwent's Assistant Chief Constable Bill Horne said: "I am sure that this scheme will prove a valuable tool for the four police forces of Wales and the British Transport Police. It will enable us to increase our visibility and accessibility to the public and therefore improve safety when travelling throughout the country."

Operators taking part include Henleys of Abertillery; IBT and Glyn Williams Travel of Blackwood; Newport Transport and Stagecoach.

Bobbies on the Buses is organised by Bus Users UK in Wales, a group funded by the Assembly leadership.

Leo Markham, the group's Officer for Wales, said: "Anti-social behaviour is a problem for us all but for bus users it causes particular problems, ranging from feelings of unease when waiting for or travelling on buses, through to social exclusion when services are withdrawn, as they sometimes are, following stone-throwing or similar incidents. "The cost to bus operators is enormous and it is the bus user who ultimately pays the cost with higher fares."

He added that they saw the scheme as the start of even better co-operation between police and bus operators which would give a greater feeling of security to passengers. "A decent, safe and secure public transport system is one of the hallmarks of a civilised society. Closer co-operation between police and bus operators with a visible police presence likely on any local bus in Wales is part of helping people with that system."

Tamsin Dunwood, the Assembly's deputy transport minister, said: "Allowing police officers to travel for free on local buses is an innovative idea which is to be welcomed.

"The visibility of uniformed police will help to ensure the safety of travelling passengers and should