Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative leader, has stated that she has personally intervened to stop people from playing loud music on public transport. She believes that young people show respect when confronted by a "firm adult," a view that contrasts with advice from Downing Street discouraging public intervention. Badenoch’s comments were made in an interview with GB News and follow an announcement by Andy Burnham regarding a campaign to tackle anti-social behavior.
Burnham's initiative includes potential £100 fines for individuals disturbing others by not using headphones, alongside measures against littering, vaping, and threatening behavior. However, questions have been raised about enforcement, with a government minister acknowledging there would be no dedicated "bus police." The Department for Transport has also clarified that bus drivers will not be responsible for enforcement, and Downing Street has advised that other passengers should not take matters into their own hands.
When asked about intervening in such situations, Badenoch recounted personal experiences, stating, "I have. I've even done so in the past. I think with young people in particular, when they see a firm adult, they actually do show respect." She expressed concern that people are hesitant to intervene due to fear of negative repercussions, noting that existing rules are often not enforced. "Why are people not enforcing that? And it's because the ticket inspectors are scared. The train drivers don't want to get involved... We need to bring back consequences for bad behaviour," she argued.
Badenoch also emphasized the importance of defending British culture, warning that negativity towards it could lead to civil unrest similar to that seen in France. "If you tell young people that their country is terrible... and end up going about imperialism and all sorts of – white privilege and all of that rubbish, then you see them burning down churches and the things that, spraying graffiti on war memorials, and that's why I always intervene," she said. "Some people will say that, 'Oh, why are you getting involved in culture wars?' I will fight for British culture. It's very important."
In a personal anecdote, Badenoch shared that her 10-year-old son has expressed a desire to join the army. "He's only 10 years old, so I don't think that he actually knows what it means, and he probably wouldn't be signing up soon," she remarked, considering if she should encourage him to join cadets.
Burnham's campaign aims to address everyday issues that cause inconvenience. Local authorities were granted the power to set and enforce their own rules on bus networks this year. Guidance from the Department for Transport outlines how new legislation can be used. The government's "share the journey, not the noise" campaign also reminds the public of existing rules on the rail network, where passengers playing music loudly can face fines of up to £1,000 or removal from the train if they refuse to comply with staff requests.
Ministers have stated that authorized officers, including transport safety officials and police, will handle incidents on buses as part of the crackdown. However, when asked about scenarios where no authorized officers are present, a Downing Street spokesman reiterated that it is not the public's responsibility to combat anti-social behavior. "It is for transport safety officers, the police and other authorized officers to have the powers to act," the spokesman said. "The point of these changes is to give them a quicker and more effective way of dealing with persistent anti-social behaviour. Clearly, we're not asking the public to compromise their own positions."