The woman, who police have expressed interest, sitting behind the boys claiming the pair are blocking her view. Source: Supplied
In a screen grab of the video, the bus driver confronts the woman and asks her to stop swearing. Source: Supplied
THE woman allegedly at the centre of last month's verbal racial attack on a young boy on a Sydney bus has been identified and charged, according to police.
While no complaint was formally lodged by the victim or his family, police were so horrified at the "disturbing" footage they sought the woman after an intensive search spanning nearly three weeks.
The 55-year-old woman, who lives in Sydney's inner west, was charged shortly after 5pm yesterday and issued with a field court attendance for offensive language under the summary offences act.
"This type of [alleged] racial abuse, especially where young children are involved, is completely deplorable and will not be tolerated. With the communities support, we will put a stop to these unacceptable acts," Commander, Police Transport Command, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell said.
The woman will face a Burwood court in August.
"It's not f---ing right. Sit the f--- down. Get a passport bro," she says in the video. "I'm born here, I know what I'm doing. Go back on your f---ing boat and f--- off".
Bankstown Police Transport Command Inspector Robert Danks confirmed to news.com.au yesterday police were looking into the case and indicated they had identified the woman.
Officers of the Transport Command questioned the woman yeserday afternoon and subsequently charged her.
According to one police source things were "moving very quickly".
The officer was so appalled by what he had seen he said: "If I was in charge I'd have a couple of blokes to go out and charge her immediately.
"This message just won't be tolerated".
The maximum penalty for an offensive conduct charge is three months imprisonment.
A State Transit spokesman confirmed they were assisting police with their investigations into the matter.
"It is pleasing they have made progress," he told news.com.au.
"We expect all passengers to respect each other and comply with basic common courtesy when travelling on buses.
"Should anyone experience any anti-social behaviour, such as racial abuse, they can approach the bus driver who may try to intervene and ask the offending passenger to leave the bus. If required, the driver can contact a supervisor via radio and organise for police to meet the bus."
Police leads intensified after a public appeal for assistance to locate the woman was released last Friday.
"About 3.30pm on 17 April 2013, a woman was involved in a verbal confrontation with a school student on a State Transit Authority (STA) bus route number M41 travelling through Burwood," it reads.
"Police from the Police Transport Command are investigating the incident and have today released an image of a woman they believe may be able to assist them with their inquiries.
"The woman depicted is described as being caucasian in appearance, about 50 years of age, with long light brown hair in a bun, with a tattoo on her upper back of medium build. She is shown wearing a black crochet jumper."
In an email forwarded to news.com.au, Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian described her "concern" about the incident with a frustrated citizen.
"Whether it is on public transport or not, racism is never acceptable," she wrote.
"It is an offence for bus customers to use obscene, offensive or abusive language."
She continues to say it is responsibility of the bus driver to ask customers to cease with unacceptable behaviour in the case an incident like this occurs.
"If customers do not comply, the bus driver may ask them to leave the bus. If necessary, the bus driver may seek help from State Transit's Network Control Centre to contact police.
"As Minister for Transport, I am very keen to make sure all public transport is as safe as possible."
After a string of abuses on public transport Minister Berejiklian announced the launch of the Police Transport Command last February.
The Command saw NSW Police Force take full control over security of the entire public transport network - including trains, ferries and buses - and launched May last year.
The new command will see 610 dedicated police officers allocated to patrol trains, buses and ferries by the end of 2014.
"This was a decision about safety and what is in the best interest of the travelling public," said Minister Berejiklian.
"Safety and security is one of the key concerns of customers, and there is nothing more reassuring than a high visibility, high profile police presence on trains, buses and ferries.
"Only police have police powers."
Inspector Danks urged victims and witnesses on incidents on public transport to contact the police during or immediately after the incident.
"My advice would be to somehow contact the police so they could stop the fight.
"Video footage helps us at court but we don't want to put anyone in a position of jeopardy."
"We wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for the media," said Inspector Danks.
In February, ABC News presenter Jeremy Fernandez was kicked off a Sydney bus after enduring 15-minutes of verbal racial taunts.
More recently, Perth commuters have shamed a passenger who refused to remove her bags from a seat to allow a pregnant woman to sit down.
In one of the most shocking instances seen yet, video emerged of teens pouring an energy drink over a man on a Melbourne Metro train.
Continue the conversation via Twitter @newscomauHQ | @the_mattyoung
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