London Bus Driver Dismissed After Confronting Necklace Thief
A London bus driver described as a "hero" by members of the public has been dismissed from his position following an incident where he pursued and incapacitated a man who had stolen a passenger's necklace. The employment tribunal in Watford has upheld the decision by Metroline to terminate Mark Hehir's employment for gross misconduct, despite his claims of acting in self-defence.
The Incident on Route 206
The events unfolded on June 25, 2024, while Mark Hehir was operating the 206 bus service between Wembley and Maida Vale in north-west London. According to tribunal documents, a man boarded the bus, pushed past a female passenger, and snatched a necklace from her neck before fleeing the vehicle. Mr Hehir immediately gave chase down the street, successfully recovering the stolen item and returning it to the distressed passenger.
The situation escalated when the thief re-emerged and approached the bus again. Tribunal evidence indicates that the man threw "the first punch" at Mr Hehir, who responded with a single blow in self-defence that rendered the assailant unconscious. Mr Hehir then dragged the man to the pavement and restrained him for approximately half an hour until authorities arrived.
Disciplinary Proceedings and Tribunal Findings
Both individuals were arrested following the altercation, but Mr Hehir was subsequently released without further police action. The following day, Metroline suspended him from duty and initiated a disciplinary investigation. The allegations presented during the hearing included:
- Bringing the company into disrepute through physical assault of a passenger
- Failing to protect passenger safety by leaving the bus unattended with the engine running
- Chasing an assailant instead of remaining with the vehicle
Operations Manager Alina Gioroc, who presided over the disciplinary proceedings, informed the tribunal that she believed the thief had returned to the bus with the intention to apologise and shake hands with both the female passenger and Mr Hehir. She stated that when the man attempted to shake hands, Mr Hehir pushed him away rather than stepping back himself, and that the man had not displayed aggression until that point.
Ms Gioroc determined that restraining the man for nearly thirty minutes constituted an "excessive use of force and disproportionate" response. She found all allegations substantiated and recommended immediate dismissal for gross misconduct.
Defence Arguments and Tribunal Decision
Mr Hehir defended his actions to the tribunal, explaining that he had acted instinctively when pursuing the thief and that he had left the bus doors open with the handbrake engaged. He described how the female passenger appeared frightened when the man returned, and he pinned the assailant to the ground because he feared what might happen if the man regained his footing.
The tribunal was presented with a case review note from Detective Constable Waddington, which stated that "the claimant had used force which was proportionate and necessary in the circumstances in the defence of himself and the female passenger." Despite this assessment, the employment tribunal concluded that Metroline's disciplinary managers had held a genuine belief of gross misconduct on reasonable grounds, and that their response fell within the "band of reasonable responses" available to an employer in such circumstances.
The tribunal's decision to uphold the dismissal has sparked debate about the boundaries of employee conduct in emergency situations, particularly when public safety and property protection are involved.
