Transport for London has said it will take “appropriate action” against a driver who failed to respond when a commuter on his bus shouted antisemitic abuse at young children and passengers.
Paul Edwards, correspondence manager for buses at TfL, said: “I can assure you that this matter has been fully investigated by both Arriva, the bus operator, and the Metropolitan Police.
“The driver involved has since been identified and interviewed and Arriva will take appropriate action to ensure that any future incident is handled more appropriately.”
The driver failed to act when JC reporter Rosa Doherty phoned the police for help after witnessing a man shout anti-Jewish abuse on board a 102 bus in Golders Green.
Despite the man’s threats to “burn the bus” and “the Jews” he was allowed back on the bus after he had alighted.
When Ms Doherty approached the driver he told her: “There is nothing I can do” and refused to stop the bus so police could attend.
Mr Edwards said: “In the event any passenger feels threatened or at risk drivers are given clear instructions to contact our Centrecomm team.
“Using either the code blue or code red schemes, depending on whether the individual is still on board the bus and the incident ongoing, the driver would then be advised on the appropriate response.
“I am sorry that the driver did not follow the correct procedure in this instance.”
In a separate incident police have charged Ian Campbell, 42, of Bowes Road, London N11 in connection with the abuse.
He has been charged with racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, and using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Campbell is due to attend Hendon Magistrates Court on October 9.
