§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) property and (b) violent crimes were recorded by the British Transport Police at (i) railway stations and (ii) coach and bus stations in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [128303]
§ Mr. HillThe British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the national railway, London Underground and a number of light rail systems. They do not police coach or bus facilities.
The BTP's crime database does not allow the figures for crime locations to be extracted easily and providing the figures for railway stations alone could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The tables include figures for property and violent crime over the last five years on the whole railway network.
to improve and standardise good security practices at all overground and underground stations. To become an accredited Secure Station, each station operator needs to work with their local British Transport Police Crime Prevention Operator to ensure that their station meets the national standards on design and management to cut down crime. The standards relate to such measures as staff training, Help Points, CCTV, lighting and information. Operators also have to conduct an independent passenger survey to see whether passengers feel safe at the station and provide evidence that crime rates are low.
89WWe are aware that a number of stations are currently working towards accreditation and we are hopeful of having around 100 stations accredited by the end of the year. We will continue to work with the rail industry to encourage further accreditations.