Sacking of bus driver who punched thief 'shameful'

The sacking of a bus driver for punching a thief who had stolen a necklace from a female passenger was "shameful and unjust", according to the shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan who has launched a petition to reinstate him.

Mark Hehir told a tribunal he acted in self-defence when driving the 206 bus for Metroline, which runs between Wembley and Maida Vale in north-west London in June 2024.

Metroline told the hearing the driver's use of force was "excessive" after the thief, who was shown on CCTV to have thrown the first punch, was knocked unconscious.

Mullan wrote: "As an MP, I can't make a company act differently but with public support we can shame them into doing the right thing."

He added: "Mark's courage ensured the safety of his passenger and put a wrong right.

"Sign this petition if you agree Mark's dismissal was shameful and unjust and that Metroline should reinstate or compensate him. Ludicrously, one of their concerns was that the robber was a 'customer'."

Both men were arrested but Hehir was subsequently released and told he would face no further police action.

The day after the incident on 25 June 2024, Hehir was suspended from duty and told to attend an investigation.

At a disciplinary hearing, he was told the allegations included "bringing the company into disrepute by physically assaulting a passenger" and that he had also "failed to protect his and his passengers' safety by leaving the bus unattended with engine running and chasing an assailant".

Hehir told the hearing that "he had acted instinctively in running after the [man]" and that he had left the doors open and the handbrake on.

The hearing was shown a note from a detective which said "the claimant had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger".

The petition said: "Acting quickly to help people in moments like this is difficult and even trained professionals can make mistakes.

"But people doing the right thing, for the right reasons when so many look the other way, need our support not the rulebook being thrown at them."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]