on a bus driver by a mob of pupils, it was revealed yesterday.

And CedarBridge Academy principal Ernest Payette, some of whose pupils were involved in the incident, is to try and organise meetings between himself, his pupils and bus drivers in a bid to defuse the tension on public transport.

A Police spokeswoman said last night: "There will probably be a stepped up Police presence on the buses.'' She added: "Police have already been riding the buses during Hallowe'en and just after with good effect. It would follow that this would be a reasonable response.'' Mr. Payette declined to comment on what could be an appropriate response until he had spoken to PTB chief Mr. Basden today.

But Education Minister Jerome Dill said he wanted to see more parents riding the bus with their children -- and welcomed a stronger Police presence on public transport.

And Opposition leader Jennifer Smith called for school prefects trained to defuse potentially violent situations to be enlisted in the fight against rowdies.

Mr. Dill said: "I regret the incident which occurred -- but the way forward to do a lot more of what we did successfully for Hallowe'en and that's parental involvement.

"Up at CedarBridge -- because of the parental presence at Hallowe'en -- they had one of the quietest days since school began.'' Mr. Dill stressed that there was a place for strict discipline and that "could not be backed away from''.

But he said in addition to prevention, there had to be parental involvement in their children's school careers.

Mr. Dill added he would welcome Police on the buses -- and said it could help boost community policing.

He said: "Community policing is generally regarded as being positive. If the Police choose to ride on the buses as part of their community effort, I don't necessarily see that as a bad thing.

"It's like seeing Parish Constables very active in their areas. It would give Police another opportunity to mix with members of the public in a potentially non-confrontational setting.'' Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess -- who is organising meetings with the Education Department, teachers and the PTB to try and get a safer deal for drivers, disagreed.

Violence He admitted a heavy Police presence might have to be considered to protect his members.

But he added: "It would be a sad day if we had to put Policemen on our buses.'' Ms. Smith spoke out yesterday amid concern over the bus attack and the stabbing of P.c. Paul Simons at a football on Tuesday night.

She stressed that Bermuda had much to be proud of in the vast majority of its young people.

Ms Smith added: "We should enlist more of them to help us to change the increasingly negative image of an angry and violent generation created by a minority, as well as give them a role in influencing their peers to better and more positive behaviour.

"Consideration should be given to selecting responsible senior pupils to be present on each bus to ensure that students maintain good behaviour so that bus drivers can concentrate on their jobs -- to safely drive the bus.'' And Ms Smith said that "swift action'' was needed to deal with troublemakers -- but coupled with rehabilitation, counselling and access to jobs.

EDUCATION ED POLICE POL