§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of recent murders and attacks on London Underground, he will give details of any proposals to improve security on public transport in London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 15 December 1988]: London Regional Transport has accepted the recommendation of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary that the complement of the London underground division of the British Transport police should be increased from 350 to 400 officers. LRT will be discussing the implementation of this recommendation with the British Transport police committee and the Chief Constable with the objective of bringing the division up to the new complement by the end of the 1989–90 financial year. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Commissioner of the City of London Police will be consulted as to how best they, in conjunction with the British Transport police, could provide additional officers as quickly as possible for policing the underground while the new British Transport police officers are being recruited and trained.
The increased manpower will facilitate further extension of the local area policing concept successfully piloted in the Stockwell area and will increase the police presence on the underground generally. London Underground Limited is implementing the recommendations of the Department of Transport's report of November 1986 on "Crime on the Underground" through a programme of passenger security measures for which the Government have made £15 million available. As part of this programme it has today commissioned a new underground communications network which will enable the use of police radio at 42 deep-level stations. The passenger security programme also includes installation at a number of stations of "Help Point" booths, intercom/alarm panels, enhanced closed circuit television monitoring and improved lighting.