§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on progress on measures to combat violence on public transport following the conference which he and the Home Secretary chaired in May.
§ Mr. FowlerWe concluded at the conference that the crucial issue was the need to increase the number and effectiveness of the police deployed on public transport, particularly in London.
Within my overall transport programme, I shall therefore be giving this high priority. Although the transport supplementary grant settlement for the next financial year will be a tight one, I shall be taking account, in making Greater London's allocation, of London Transport's special need for additional manpower and equipment to reduce violence.
I have agreed with the leader of the Greater London Council, which has the overall responsibility for London Transport, that there should be an immediate start to recruiting more police with the aim of doubling its existing force. In addition, London Transport is to make a start on a programme of capital works, such as the installation of train radios and closed circuit television, which will help the police to combat violence.
I shall also be making some extra funds available to British Rail to strengthen the manpower of the British Transport police within their jurisdiction in both London and other principal cities. Discussions are in hand with the Metropolitan Police and representatives of other local forces about their most effective deployment along with the extra British Transport police on both the London Transport and British Rail systems.
There were a number of other valuable and practical suggestions made at the conference. I am writing to operators and local authority associations and to the trade unions involved, inviting their co-operation in implementing them.