Weather Afternoon: 10°c Sunny spells Tonight: 4°c Partly Cloudy Night

News

Mayor's bus police cut theft and vandalism by a third

Justin Davenport, Crime Editor
15 Jun 2009


The number of bus robberies and cases of vandalism on London's buses has fallen by more than a third since Boris Johnson became Mayor.

But latest figures show sex offences were up from 480 to 535, a rise of 11 per cent.

The Mayor said that new transport hub patrol teams have cut cases of vandalism on the buses from 5,846 to 3,723, with robberies down from 4,266 to 2,761 and violent incidents down from 8,400 to 7,609.

The overall figure is an 18 per cent drop in crime on buses in the capital - making it the lowest level of crime for five years.

Mr Johnson released the latest statistics as he launched the last of 32 policing teams dedicated to patrolling transport hubs across London.

The teams - which include two police officers and seven PCSOs - travel on the buses and patrol bus stations.

Mr 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."

Transport for London said there were now just 12 crimes for every million bus journeys taken. 

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rod Jarman added: "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."

There were major crime falls in some outlying London boroughs.

Overall bus crime was down by 43 per cent in Bexley and there were 26 per cent falls in Greenwich and Richmond.

Overall crime in Camden and Haringey was down by 28 per cent and 24 per cent.

The figures showed that the number of drugs offences rose by 14 per cent - from 683 to 779 - mainly due to the increased number of people being stopped by police.

Fraud offences or ticket evasion was down seven per cent from 414 cases to 387.

In total there were 27,062 crimes on the buses in the financial year 2008/09 compared with 33,125 the previous year.

The pledge to cut crime on buses was a key part of the Mayor's election campaign.

Mr Jarman added: "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. They have achieved very promising results."

Reader views (0)

 Add your view

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • Riot axeman terror at McDonald's Axe man A rioter who terrorised diners with an axe at McDonald's has been jailed for five years and three months - one of the toughest sentences for...
  • Terror of boy exposed as gang witness Scotland Yard A boy and his family had to flee their London home after a blunder by the Met and Crown Prosecution Service gave his name to gang members he...
  • Mayor of poverty-hit council hires adviser in £1,000-a-day deal Lutfur Rahman Winterbottom One of the poorest boroughs in London is under fire for spending £1,000 a day on a personal aide for its mayor
  • Hyde Park mega-concerts at risk after neighbours complain about the noise Hyde park crowd Major music concerts in Hyde Park could be axed because Westminster council believes they are too noisy
  • Soho 'field hospital' for drunks reopens David Cameron smile A field hospital set up to deal with London's drunks is being extended as the binge-drinking crisis deepens in the capital
  • Jobless total jumps by 48,000 with UK facing 'zig-zag year' Job Centre unemployment Bank of England Governor Sir Mervyn King warned Britain faces a "zig-zag" year of growth and gloom today as unemployment rose by 48,000
  • Greens and Ukip could test Paddick in fight for mayor poll third place Paddick Brian Paddick could struggle even to finish third in this year's mayoral election, as smaller parties look set to capitalise on Lib-Dem woes...
  • Phone-hack private eye can appeal over human rights ruling Glenn Mulcaire The private investigator at the centre of the phone hacking scandal was today granted the right by the Supreme Court to appeal against a...
  • Britain's athletes could be banned from 2012 for criticising the team Olympic site British athletes risk being banned from the Olympics if they criticise team-mates or sponsors under rules that cover tattoos, contact lenses...
  • Teenager who dreamt of being a judge stabbed 24 times in 45 seconds Three thugs are facing life sentences for stabbing a teenager who had dreams of being a judge 24 times in 45 seconds in front of horrified bus passengers
  •  

    Don't Miss
    • London Gateway

      Supersize superport: London Gateway

      London Gateway, the £1.5bn container port under construction on the Thames at Thurrock, will have capacity to unload six of the world's largest ships at one time and have as much impact on the capital as a new airport or half a dozen Westfield shopping centres
    • Matthew Williamson

      One stylish affair: Matthew Williamson

      With London Fashion Week kicking off on Friday, British designer Matthew Williamson tells Rosamund Urwin about breaking up with his ex, post-show partying and his new model man