§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many stations have received secure station accreditations; and if he will instruct the Strategic Rail Authority to make it a 463W condition of future franchise contracts that all appropriate stations should be brought up to secure station accreditation standard within a given timescale. [158832]
§ Mr. HillThere are currently 97 stations accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme. The Secure Stations Scheme, which was launched in April 1998, is designed 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 Reduction Officer 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.
We are aware that a number of stations are currently working towards accreditation and we will continue to work with the rail industry to encourage further accreditations. The Strategic Rail Authority is seeking to include Secure Stations and Secured Car Park accreditation at all appropriate locations as part of the franchise replacement process.