Bus driver assaulted in Central Auckland taken to hospital with facial injury

An Auckland bus driver was taken to hospital following an assault by three young people. Photo / Alex Burton

A bus driver was taken to hospital with a facial injury after an assault by three young people in the Auckland CBD.

The attack happened around 2.30pm yesterday while the driver was sitting in a stationary bus in Britomart.

Police said the victim was taken to hospital with a laceration above his eye.

The alleged attackers, who were apprehended by nearby community police officers, will be referred to Youth Aid, Police said.

Auckland Transport (AT) could not provide the Herald with details about the injury status of the driver but said their condition was not serious.

The driver, who was on the 70 route from Botany to Britomart, will be off work while they recover from the “awful attack”, said an AT spokesperson.

“Any abuse or attacks towards our bus drivers is absolutely unacceptable. They work hard so Aucklanders can move around their city, and they deserve to have a safe workplace," said the spokesperson.

A social media user who posted about the attack said the driver was “sitting outside the bus with a bleeding head”.

Leave the bus drivers alone
by u/Routine_Bluejay4678 in auckland

AT is planning to roll out safety screens to 80% of buses over the next two years to protect its drivers, said the spokesperson.

Other measures AT takes to improve safety include deploying additional security during school holidays and training drivers in de-escalation techniques.

All of its buses are fitted with CCTV, GPS and panic buttons.

The panic buttons record sound so staff, who are directly connected, can respond and guide emergency services to intervene, AT said.