Bradford bus driver given national honour for preventing child kidnap
- David Copley receives Frontline Employee of the Year at the National Transport Awards
A Bradford bus driver has won national recognition for saving a child from kidnap.
David Copley’s quick thinking and bravery prevented a boy being snatched by a mystery man while he was driving in the city in October last year.
David, who works for First Bus, received the honour at the National Transport Awards, the premier event celebrating achievements across the industry.
He said: “I was totally flabbergasted when they read out my name as there were ten amazing finalists.”
“This is one for all bus drivers,” David added. “They do so much every day that passengers might not notice.
“Helping customers, especially children and vulnerable passengers is really important because we (drivers) have a duty of care.”
Last year, David, who has been a First Bus driver for 19 years, came to a stop in Bradford city centre where lots of children were heading home from school. He watched as a boy he thought to be 12 years old got off and was followed by a man leaving the bus, who put his arms firmly around the child's shoulders and made him walk towards an alleyway.
The boy looked over his shoulder to David with what he describes as “the most frightening of looks”. He got out of the cab and asked the child if he knew the man, which he didn’t. The man then responded with: "He's with me". David challenged him to let go of the boy, led him back to the bus and called the police. The man ran off.
Whilst on the phone to the police, David chased the suspect down the alleyway, keeping a safe distance but didn't let the man out of his sight as he walked through multiple streets and in between houses.
David gave directions on the phone while in pursuit and the police attended and made an arrest within approximately 10 minutes.
He returned to the bus to find the boy crying but now safe in the arms of his mum. “It was a big relief for me to see.” He was thanked by the mum and praised by customers for his bravery and quick thinking.
Later that day the police contacted David to tell him the man was being charged with attempted kidnapping of a minor.
David has five children and some started taking the bus to school this September but says he doesn’t think of himself as hero. “I like to think that the drivers will be looking out for them.”
First Bus North & West Yorkshire has now become a supporter of the NSPCC in the region and its Listen Up, Speak Up campaign to highlight how everyone can help to safeguard children from abuse. This has involved workshops with managers and supervisors at its six depots to cascade information and online training and resources to drivers. This is to help arm them with advice and awareness of how to report a situation they may see during the working day, or to respond to a customer who has witnessed a situation on the bus or in the street.
Awards caption: David Copley on stage with his wife Leanne and (left) Janette Bell, Managing Director of First Bus UK and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Jarvis.
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Notes to editors
Media enquiries to Richard Harrison, PR Manager, First Bus North & West Yorkshire 07973 668116 richard.m.harrison@firstbus.co.uk
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