Crime at bus stops across Tauranga has seen a 30 per cent decrease since security started guarding them nearly two months ago, according to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The guards were put in following a number of incidents which put bus drivers at risk and made passengers feel unsafe in and around the bus interchanges.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council legal and commercial manager Jessica Easton says the incidents included bus driver harassment, assault, public nuisance, public intoxication and drug use.

A security guard at one of the stops, who wished to remain anonymous, says it had gotten so bad, bus drivers were refusing to come to work.

He says police were under-resourced, so security company Nutech were contracted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to monitor behaviour.

They guard the main bus interchange on Willow Street in Tauranga CBD and Chadwick Road in Greerton.

Te Puke resident Barbara Morrison says it's comforting and reassuring.

'I definitely feel really safe now.”

Caity Grant, who takes the bus twice a day, agrees.

'I feel safer ‘cos there's been quite a lot of drama here.”

Jessica says the guards are there seven days a week from 8am until 10pm, including public holidays.

She says the initiative is a partnership between Regional Council, NZ Police, Tauranga City Council and NZ Bus.

It is unclear how long the security guards will be there, but Jessica says security requirements are being assessed on a weekly basis.