Bus passengers are to be the latest weapon in the fight against crime.

A new initiative launched by the confidential police hotline, Crimestoppers, is aiming to reach every passenger on buses leaving the Witney and Oxford depots.

Pc Allan Roberts and Brian RaseIt was given the first run on the road on Monday as Witney's Neighbourhood and Countrywatch co-ordinator Pc Allan Roberts handed over a batch of Crimestopper leaflets to Stagecoach's Witney operations manager Brian Rase.

Thousands more are to be distributed over the coming two months in a campaign to get more people to report crimes. "It is a general appeal, nothing to do with crime on the buses," said Pc Roberts. "This way we can reach the wider public with the message: 'Don't be afraid to contact the police'."

The leaflets are to go out on all 34 buses run by Stagecoach from its Witney depot and over 100 from the Oxford depot.