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30 new police teams to patrol Tube and trains
Katharine Barney01.08.08
Record numbers of police will patrol Tube stations and trains, Boris Johnson said today.
The Mayor was unveiling new teams made up of British Transport Police and community support officers, led by a sergeant.
They will be supported by 24-hour response teams across the entire London Underground and Docklands Light Railway network.
The 30 teams have been created to reduce crime and provide a visible presence at Tube stations.
They will also enforce Mr Johnson's ban on alcohol on public transport.
Officers from the teams will spend a minimum of 85 per cent of their time working and patrolling in their dedicated neighbourhood areas .
Chief Constable Ian Johnston said: "BTP has always policed these Tube stations but our new teams will now spend even more time in their local area tackling crime.
"The figures show that crime at Tube stations in nearly every borough has decreased and now we want to make sure that people are not only safe, but also feel safe.
"The teams will be working with members of their local community to identify local problems, as well as working to develop targeted solutions to tackling crime and the type of behaviour that may not be criminal but which makes people feel unsafe.
"The teams will work closely with LU and DLR staff to tackle staff assaults and anti-social behaviour and I encourage people to approach officers and raise any concerns they have about safety or criminality on the Tube."
The officers and community support officers will also run targeted operations and hold public meetings in their areas to identify local needs and priorities.
The new teams follow the Evening Standard's Safer Stations campaign launched after the murder of lawyer Tom ap Rhys Pryce, 31, as he walked home from Kensal Green Underground station in January 2006.
Mr Johnson said: "Today's announcement of 30 dedicated policing teams will make the Underground a safer environment for passengers and staff.
"It is vital that Londoners can travel safely around the city, reassured by a visible police presence.
"These new policing teams for the Tube will work alongside the additional 440 uniformed officers for the bus network I announced in May to tackle the number one issue for Londoners, crime and safety."
Reader views (13)
Boris can put as many police teams into crime hotspots as he likes, but until the courts start imposing meaningful sentences upon offenders he will be wasting his, and everyone else's time. The same can be said of the rest of crimewave UK plc.
As for the supporters of Red Ken; he didn't even pretend to be doing anything about this. He was too busy trying to turn London into an independent communist mini-state.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Well done Boris, why couldn't it be done by Red Czar Ken, and his Venezuelan dictator and chums? Those FARC guys could have taken all our nutters and held them for ransom. And thrown away the key.
- Jamal Akbhar, London.
Loving the fickle nature of the crowd. A snap of a clown and a policeman and some people are positively drooling. Dear, oh dear.
Has anyone - with a bit of thought - considered Johnson is merely pushing a section of the force from other crime hotspot areas into the underground. Or do they merely think he conjures policeman out of thin air?! Clown. Not magician.
- Jj, London
Er, what about buses and trams?
- Austen, London
My oh my, people are so fickle.
Boris has done so very little about anything so far, and watching from outside the " london bubble " , still see him as the wrong choice, he will have to do a lot more to become anything more than a failed parliament member, voted in as mayor, just for a little change for London.
- Stephen, Essex/London
Chief Constable Johnston I have on numerous occasions whilst working for LUL as an Inspector on the Station Modernisation project stopped several incidents on the LUL network, I have given statements made citizens arrest and stopped one guy getting a beating...What thanks did your Police force give.... None
But as the only man in England to be barred from your premises as a 'Security threat', please can you or the Mayor explain how I was allowed to monitor Station modernisations and SECURITY ISSUES, be sent out on both nights of the London bombings if I'm such a Threat to your Security?
How was the ONLY PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY BARRED FROM BTP PREMISES GET A HIGHLY TRUSTED JOB FOR LUL?
WHY DID KEN LIVINGSTONE/LUL/BTP GIVE WRONG ANSWERS ABOUT QUESTION 501?
To be honest I would not trust your Police Force to protect yourselves let ALONE LONDON UNDERGROUND.
- Inspector, London
At last I'm starting to feel safe, thanks to Boris!! London Loves You
- Anita, London
At last a politician who is doing something positive and needed by all sections of the community. Well done Boris and keep up the good work.
- Michael, London
Boris Johnson means business and I hope he has a similar plan for the street gangs that are terrorizing our streets.
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7
Instead of telling us what we need (Ken), Boris is actually giving us what we need after listening to our concerns. Keep it up.
- Dave, London
Uhh Mr Thurgood, ok I voted for Boris too, but I'm afraid I find comments like yours difficult to stomach. It's like a send-up in Private Eye..
- David, London N10
Well done Boris. We need to feel safe, we require a visible police presence..
- Jean, London England
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Super Boris. I just cannot believe this man, this Super Hero for London. In a few short months he has not stopped working for the benefit of all Londoners.
Why did we put up with his arch enemy, The Evil Red Ken, for so long?
Keep up the good work Boris, Londoners love you.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
