§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what criteria station s need to meet to be designated secure stations under the Secure Stations scheme; [176965]
(2) how much money has been spent advertising the Secure Stations scheme. [176967]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Secure stations Scheme is designed to improve and standardise good security practices at overground and underground stations. The Scheme awards Secure Stations status to those stations that have worked with their local British Transport Police Crime Reduction Officer to reach specified standards in crime management, station design, station management, and passenger perceptions. Criteria covered include lighting, maintenance procedures, passenger information, incident reporting, and staff training.
The Department has spent approximately £15,000 on the printing and distribution of the Secure Stations Scheme guidance. The Scheme is also promoted through meetings, presentations, magazine articles, seminars and conferences with relevant interested parties. Accredited stations are also able to advertise the Scheme themselves through local news features and their own publicity materials (e.g. posters, company magazines).
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§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many stations with Secure Station status have subsequently had the designation removed in each year since the scheme's inception; [176966]
(2) which stations have been designated secure stations under the Secure Stations Scheme. [177078]
§ Mr. McNultyA total of 216 stations have been accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme. Of these, 86 are first time accreditations, 77 have been re-accredited and, as explained as follows, 53 have lapsed. A list of accredited stations has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Approximately two-thirds of all overground rail journeys and approximately one half of all London underground journeys involve passengers starting or finishing their journeys at a Secure Station.
Stations are awarded Secure Stations status for a two year period once they have met the required accreditation standards on station design, station management, crime management, and passenger perceptions. There is provision for the accreditation to be withdrawn if there is a clear breach of standards during that time. No stations have breached the standards during their accreditation period.
Accredited stations can apply for reaccreditation after their two-year award period has expired. Although a large number of stations have become reaccredited, 53 stations have not sought reaccreditation and, therefore, their accreditation status has been removed. There were two of these stations during 2000, three during 2001, 21 during 2002, and 27 during 2003.