Newcastle Bus Driver Assaults: Two 14-Year-Olds Charged Following Separate Incidents

Two bus drivers were assaulted in separate incidents last week, leading to the arrest of two 14-year-old boys who were both charged. The attacks, which occurred on Thursday, 13 February 2025 have brought up community discussion about ongoing safety concerns of public transport workers and the wider issue of youth violence.

According to NSW Police, officers from the Police Transport Command’s Northern Satellite team launched an investigation in to the two incidents. The first event occurred  at New Lambton Heights where three males, allegedly engaged in a physical altercation on board a bus, then they were ordered to get off by the driver. Eyewitness accounts confirm that as the trio left the bus, however one of the individuals allegedly assaulted the driver, inflicting minor injuries.

Shortly after, the same group boarded another bus where they caused a disturbance among passengers. The service stopped in Glendale, at which point all passengers disembarked. However, the three males are reported to have forced open the rear door of the bus and assaulted the second driver. Despite the violence, both drivers sustained only minor injuries and were not transported to hospital.

Inquiries were conducted by police, leading to the arrest of a 14-year-old boy on Tuesday, 18 February 2025 who was taken to Belmont Police Station, the youth was charged with:

• Two counts of common assault
• Stalking/intimidation with intent to cause fear or physical harm
• Hindering or resisting a police officer in the execution of duty

The arrested teenager was brought before a children’s court on Wednesday, where bail was formally refused. The youth is scheduled to reappear in court on Monday, 24 February 2025.

Following further investigations, a second 14-year-old boy was arrested on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, and taken to Cessnock Police Station. He faces charges of common assault and affray. The second boy was granted strict conditional bail. His next court appearance is set for Monday, 24 March 2025. Police have confirmed that inquiries into both incidents remain ongoing as investigators continue to piece together the full sequence of events.

The assaults have ignited a firestorm of commentary on social media and in public forums. NSW State MP for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery was one of the first public figures to condemn the attacks. In a statement posted on Tuesday (19 Feb 2025) Hornery said, “Bus drivers are not punching bags. If you commit acts of violence on any frontline workers, you deserve a severe punishment.”, Sonia then urged the community to report any further incidents of violence on public transport to the Police Assistance Line (131 444) or Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000).

Opinions were polarised on social media, several community members were outraged at the perceived leniency of the youth justice system, with one commenter arguing that “adult crime, adult time” and calling for a tougher stance on youth offenders. Others blamed the cause of this behavior on a lack discipline by their parents. One social media user said, “These little cr*****ls are a product of neglect and poor supervision, but violence is inexcusable.”

Some commenters said there should be increased security measures on public transport, including the installation of fully enclosed driver cabins or more undercover transit police. One commenter said, “Our bus drivers are left to face abuse day after day. It’s time for the government to retrofit all buses with protective cabins.”

Incidents like those on 13 February 2025 have not been isolated to this week alone. Recent reports indicate a concerning pattern of anti-social behaviour on public transport across the Newcastle-Sydney corridor. In a related statement, Sonia Hornery highlighted previous reports of violence, including an incident involving a teenager allegedly using “fart spray” against a bus driver. This highlights the ongoing issues affecting transport workers and passengers. Hornery’s public comments suggest that while the majority of young people behave responsibly, the actions of a small minority can affect the safety of the community and errode public trust in our transport system.

The decision to charge both offenders as 14-year-olds has ignited debate over the appropriate judicial response to youth crime in Australia. While the first teenager was denied bail, a move broadly supported by the community as a deterrent, the granting of strict conditional bail to the second has raised questions about consistency.

Commentators on social media have drawn comparisons with other recent cases in the region, questioning whether the current legal framework is decent enough to address repeated violent behaviour among youths. Simply, punishment often does not meet community expectations which is leading to an increase in anti-social and violent behavior.

Police are appealing to any witnesses or individuals with dash cam footage to come forward.

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