Norwich's biggest bus company could scrap its controversial ticket inspectors as it confirms their jobs are at risk.
First Bus would not say how many revenue protection officers (RPOs) it currently employs on its Norwich routes but said all the roles were under consultation.
The bus company introduced the black-clad inspectors two years ago to catch fare dodgers after it found one of the biggest forms of fare evasion was adults buying child tickets to travel half-price.
But the enforcement officers have been accused of being aggressive and rude to passengers, some of who said they had been unfairly chucked off buses.
Describing one incident passenger Catherine Essex said: "We witnessed a foreign student getting dragged off the bus recently who had a UEA ID, but was asked for further ID, despite barely being able to understand English.
"The inspectors are intimidating and it’s unnerving for passengers."
Another woman who travels on First Bus previously described the inspectors as “clearly overdressed for their role and looked more like police from a TV show”.
An 18-year-old City College Norwich student also said he was thrown off a bus by inspectors when using a student pass, because he did not have the correct form of ID.
The number of passengers reporting the inspectors became so numerous in 2024 that Norwich MPs Clive Lewis and Alice Macdonald weighed in on the issue and contacted First Bus about the inspectors.
The bus firm, however, counteracted these claims saying officers are being regularly monitored and no evidence has been found that they have behaved inappropriately.
Commenting the potential redundancies First Bus spokesman said, "We continually review and manage our operating structure effectiveness and as a result, the Revenue Protection Officers across our entire business, not just in Norwich, have been placed at risk of redundancy.
"We cannot comment further on an ongoing consultation."
The company declined to comment how many jobs were at risk.
However, some say despite their flaws, the inspectors are necessary to support busy drivers who do not have enough time to enforce the rules.
John Peacock, 74, an ex-First Bus driver of 18 years said: "It is a false economy making them redundant because people will start taking rides for free.
"They had eight or 10 and made some redundant already and now they have three.
"They are trying to hang on to their jobs.
"The uniforms were intimidating and there was no need for that and I do not think they had sufficient customer service training.
"I think they should be kept and reformed not made redundant, it acts as a deterrent."
