POLICE are withdrawing from Bournemouth's Safe Bus, with SIA-approved door staff set to be hired instead.

Those who organise the service have said there is no cause for alarm.

However, the move has sparked concern, with one resident saying: "It should be staffed by real police officers."

The bus's future has been an ongoing concern for several months.

In January, the Daily Echo revealed that the scheme could be scrapped as part of a review, although the stakeholders behind the initiative said they are committed to keeping the service going in some form.

During a council meeting that month, Andrew Williams, community safety manager for Bournemouth council, said: "We will be looking at the staffing of the bus, whether we need police officers and also, do we need it to be a bus?

“It costs money to maintain the vehicle and keep it going so could we instead use a premises in the nearby area.

“There are budgetary implications for the bus and we are looking at how we would go ahead in the future."

Earlier this week, Mr Williams told the Echo: “We review the Safe Bus every year with our partners Dorset Police and South Western Ambulance Service.

"This year, we have decided to arrange for security guards to supervise the Safe Bus during the evenings instead of police officers.

"This change will make no immediate impact to the Safe Bus as Dorset Police are still involved and will continue to manage their volunteers throughout the summer.”

The Safe Bus was initially established in 2012 as a partnership between Dorset Police, Bournemouth Borough Council and the South Western Ambulance Service.

Those who volunteer for the bus, which is based at Horseshoe Common, help to keep the pressure off the emergency services in the town centre at night.

It is staffed by people who give their time for free, including special constables, police community support officers, paramedics, club chaplains and alcohol addiction counsellors.

Those who need somewhere safe to go are welcome aboard the bus, including people with a physical injury or illness, those who have misused drugs or alcohol, visitors to the town who have become separated from their friends and victims of crime.

The vehicle offers private treatment room, hot and cold running water and heating, and a private room so police statements can be taken.

A member of the public who asked not to be named said: "Without the police, it's not the Safe Bus - it's just a bus.

"It's not good enough to have door staff. It should be staffed by real police officers who can take statements and get victims of crime the help they need."