A new unit at Kingston police station has scored its first conviction - just nine days after being set up.

The Kingston safer transport team (STT) prosecutions unit was set up on February 16 and had its first success on Wednesday, February 25, when a 15-year-old boy from Berrylands pleaded guilty at Kingston Youth Court to criminally damaging a bus.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been caught on camera smashing a window on the 57 bus on November 8, 2008, and was identified by STT officers reviewing the CCTV footage.

He was given a reparation order to complete 18 hours of community work.

In another case, a 14-year-old girl from Surbiton was arrested by the unit on Thursday, February 5, for allegedly racially abusing a K1 bus driver.

She appeared at Kingston Youth Court on February 18 and will face trial on March 24.

A 16 year-old boy from Worcester Park was also arrested by the unit on Thursday, February 26, on suspicion of graffiting a 57 bus.

He is currently on police bail while investigations continue.

Inspector Iain Lewis, head of the STT, said: “The early successes of this new team in identifying and arresting those responsible for crime on our bus network underline our commitment to making our transport network in Kingston even safer for staff and passengers.”