A quick look at the calendar will remind drivers it's been six months since dramatic events took place that put bus security on centre stage.

We refer to the two assaults on bus drivers on 31 July 2009.

A female driver was assaulted in the city and a male driver was attacked later in Armadale and subsequently lost an eye.

This terrible assault on Mr Gerrad Sin is still before the courts. The little darling who was charged by police appeared in Perth Childrens Court on March 18th.

At the time of the assaults the TWU kicked up a big song and dance about the assaults and extracted firm promises from the state government and relevant authorities.

High powered meetings with the PTA, Police and Wilsons Security and the three bus firms were held amid heavy media attention.

We claimed that the drivers and passengers were not being adequately looked after and demanded action.

On March 15 the TWU was given a progress report at a meeting attended by all the authorities listed above.

• All buses in the Transperth System have been fitted with Duress Alarm Buttons. These were already in place on Path buses.

• The alarms will eventually be linked in with a digital radio network that will also be linked to the cameras in buses and hopefully into a GPS on the wayfarer that will enable Police or Wilsons to see what is going on and where, as soon as a driver hits that duress button.

• The fit out of ALL buses with Security Cages is nearly complete. Some companies required more cages than others, and some still have a way to go to be complete. And yes we know that the older screens in the Renaults and older Mercs are not acceptable.

Hopefully these screens, or the buses themselves will be retired post haste. We have also tried a number of screens with the idea of replacing the mesh in the door with a transparent screen to stop liquids being thrown on drivers and to stop the idiots who think it is okay to spit on people.

To date we haven't found a suitable material that isn't reflective to the point of being dangerous. The search will continue until we find something that works.

• We have a lot more Security Personnel out there on the platforms and in cars. We are still trying to get their Observe and Report Instructions sorted out, and some issues with equipment, but we are getting closer.

All drivers should appreciate that the PTA Security Officers are there for you. They know only too well when you are in danger, they can hear you on the two way and they get as worked up as you do. However, they simply do not have the means to get there any faster, (we are working on that to at the moment).

• With the help of the politicians, on both sides of parliament we have had new legislation enacted to make it even more costly for the idiots that want to throw things at buses. There have been arrests and we wait to see what comes of the court appearances.

We also have a few issues with Police NOT charging offenders under the new legislation. If this occurs please give me as much information as possible so we can chase up the coppers. Sadly not all members of the W.A. Police seem to be as informed as well others in this regard. We'll do our best to change that.

The TWU is not resting on its laurels with the changes that we have achieved so far. We are taking a number of things to the table when we go. More security officers, better equipped better paid and with more powers.

We are looking at enabling drivers to carry a form of ID spray that is not pepper spray but is BRIGHT PURPLE, similar to a dye bomb in a bank. It would make it easier for Security Personnel to identify the offenders in the future.