Crime Desk

New transport policing teams help reduce crime on the bus network to its lowest for five years

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson today announced that crime on buses in the capital is at its lowest level for five years, down by 18 per cent since he took office. Robberies and bus vandalism has been cut by more than a third.

The Mayor unveiled the figures in Brixton, where he launched the last of 32 policing teams dedicated to patrolling transport hubs across London. The teams are jointly funded by Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS); and are part of the Mayor’s commitment to increase visibility of policing across the whole of the city. The nine-strong team will patrol on and around the bus network in the Brixton Road area.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:
“When I became Mayor, I pledged to make buses, trains and stations safer. It is extremely encouraging to see the positive effect these policing teams are having across the capital. Crime on buses has fallen in every single borough and this is in no small part thanks to the increased number of officers around our transport network.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and we will be working tirelessly to build on this success.”

David Brown, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL said:
“We have seen a further significant reduction in bus crime over the past year and there are now only 12 crimes for every million bus journeys taken.  Our passengers can travel in confidence knowing that they are extremely unlikely to be a victim of a crime when travelling on London’s bus network.

 “The Mayor’s commitment and investment in visible transport policing across our network has proved to be a real success and has helped us cut crime to its lowest in five years”.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rod Jarman, said:
“We are delighted to see the last of the hub teams being rolled out in Lambeth. These new policing teams, the result of an innovative partnership between the police and Transport for London, provide high visibility; locally accountable policing on busy transport interchanges and stations across the capital - increasing security and providing a reassuring presence in the areas where they have been launched. They have achieved very promising initial results, and through our partnership working and robust high visibility policing tactics, we intend to send out a clear message that anti-social and criminal activity in and around transport hubs and their environs will not be tolerated.”

Chief Superintendent Joe Royle, Transport Operational Command Unit said:  
“We are working together with Transport for London and our borough policing colleagues to keep London moving safely. These outstanding figures demonstrate the effectiveness of our patrols and operations and their impact in disrupting criminal activity on public transport. Together with our policing colleagues we are determined to maintain this downward trend and in doing so, we will continue to improve the safety of our passengers and bus staff.”

The teams have been working closely with existing Safer Neighbourhood Teams, British Transport Police, Safer School Officers and local transport staff to ensure Londoners can move around the capital ever more safely and confidently.

photo credit: London Daily News