Vicious murder prompts undercover cops on the buses

BUS drivers have spoken out about rising violence on night routes following the savage murder of Richard Whelan, the 28-year-old man from Kentish Town who was stabbed in front of his girlfriend on the Number 43 bus on Friday.
The attack – the latest in a series of violent incidents on Camden buses in recent months – has prompted Transport for London (TfL) to place undercover police officers on routes to catch violent passengers.
Richard Whelan, who lived in Gaisford Street, was killed when he confronted a fellow passenger who had been throwing chips at him and his girlfriend. Police say he was stabbed up to eight times and the murderer has yet to be caught.
Now a special team of law enforcers are travelling through the city at night to keep a watch on passengers – and stop fights on double-deckers.
The Transport Operational Command Unit, made up of TfL staff and Metropolitan Police officers, was formed in 2002 to combat bus crime.
Its 1,300-strong staff – many of whom who are working undercover – have made more than 12,600 arrests for offences since it was formed three years ago.
This year officers were placed on the Number 29 bus – which runs through Camden Town from Trafalgar Square to Palmers Green – because of fights, muggings and harassment.
David, of Engel Park, Mill Hill, is charged with attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and affray after he attacked his victim with a knife.
The TfL spokesman said: “If we hear reports of trouble on particular routes, we send officers to ride the buses to act as a deterrent. We’ll be increasing our operations because of what has happened.”
Colleagues of the bus driver on the number 43 say they feel they are “in the line of fire” after the murder. The driver watched in horror as the assailant lashed out at Mr Whelan after he asked him to stop throwing food at his girlfriend. The couple had enjoyed a night out in Upper Street.
He was stabbed through the heart and died later at Highgate’s Whittington hospital.
One driver at Archway’s Petherton Gardens bus depot said: “Most of the boys here have been attacked at least once. We’re in the line of fire.”
Metroline spokeswoman Nicola Vincent said: “All bus drivers are responsible for their passengers welfare and it is harsh that something like this happens on your bus. It’s beyond their control. He would have had to press the panic button and wait for help. He saw the victim – he saw everything.”