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Crime on board: Violence up, robberies down

Violence on buses rises as robberies fall

Anna Davis, Evening Standard
20.11.07

Attacks on London bus passengers are becoming increasingly common, despite an overall drop in crime on the network.

The number of attacks on bus passengers has risen from 4,029 last year to 4,167 - a 3.4 per cent rise - and now accounts for a quarter of all crime on London's buses.

The figures, released today by Transport for London, show that attacks are increasingly commonplace, as are drug offences, which jumped 60 per cent in the last year.

But TfL recorded a drop of 11 per cent in overall crime. The number of cases fell from 18,348 last year to 16,268 - with fewer offences recorded in the criminal damage, robbery and theft categories. This reduction was in spite of a seven per cent increase in passenger numbers.

Mayor Ken Livingstone attributed the fall to an increase in visible policing and he praised Safer Transport teams for cracking down on crime, with just 15 crimes committed per million passenger journeys. Mr Livingstone said that the figures gave a clear indication of the effect Safer Transport teams were having in "bearing down on the small number of people who commit crime on the bus network".

"London's buses are a low crime environment and with investment in extra police, comprehensive CCTV on buses and improved intelligence, our passengers are better protected than ever before," he added.

"The teams have been a proven success, and we will be continuing to fund them for a further year, making the transport network even safer." TfL also recorded a nine per cent drop in theft and pickpocket offences - although such crimes are still the most common, representing 39 per cent of all crime committed on London's buses.

Sexual offences stayed about the same, while the number of people caught without the correct ticket increased from 152 to 202, accounting for about one per cent of total crime on the network.

A TfL spokeswoman said: "Obviously one violent assault is one too many so we will continue to invest in policing and security on the network.

"But the figures need to be looked at in context. The bus network is a low-crime environment.

"If you look at the 3.4 per cent rise in violence against the person against the seven per cent increase in passenger numbers you see that the actual rate for violent offences has gone down."

Twenty-one Safer Transport teams, made up of uniformed officers and police community support officers, have been introduced this year.

The TfL spokeswoman said: "The introduction of Safer Transport teams has provided visibility and reassurance to passengers on thousand of London's buses.

"The teams have been welcomed by local communities as a valuable policing presence and, because of their success, the Mayor and Transport for London - in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service - will be providing funding of £10.7 million for their continued operation for a third year."

The figures relate to crimes on board buses and at bus stops. The capital's buses carry 6.3 million passengers a day on 700 routes across the capital.

CRIME ON BOARD
Nature of offence	Criminal damage	Drugs	Robbery	Sexual offences	Theft & handling	Violence against the person

2006 number of crimes	3774	181	2946	243	7175	4029

% of total crimes	20%	1%	16%	1%	38%	22%

2007 number of crimes	2935	301	2113	241	6529	4167

% of total crimes	18%	2%	13%	1%	39%	25%

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As a bus driver I would point out that we are activly discouraged from reporting the crime that we see. If I am stupid enough to get out of the cab to help a victim I am threatened with the loss of my licience. On the odd occaision I have to report a crime I end up sitting for over an hour at a Police station and even though video evidence is available my evidence is discounted. I must admit it has been a good year so far in that I have only been robbed three times and stabbed once this year, but thats because I changed company to one with bandit screens and I dont get out of the cab any more!

- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex

The problem of violence is not confined to buses - tram passengers have also been victims. Last December a 96 year-old man was beaten and blinded in one eye. Last month his attacker walked free from court, sentenced only to a 3-year supervision order. A few weeks later a 70 year-old man was literally kicked off a tram - his attacker has not been caught, despite CCTV on the vehicles and platforms.

- Austen, London

Still Red Ken and his pal the police commissioner are in complete denial and smiling as if nothing is bad. Red Ken gives the free bus pass to everyone, less personnel on the buses, less buses so more cramped buses, more pickpockets and no police to be seen.

- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London