LIB DEMS CALL FOR URGENT ACTION TO TACKLE FAILURE OF TRANSPORT CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Sep 2004

Graham is calling for the Mayor to tackle violent crime on transport

Following the spate of attacks on public transport over the summer months and the rise in violent crime on the Underground and railways, Liberal Democrats will later today quiz the Mayor on the failure of crime prevention and protection strategies on buses, trains, tubes and tram.

At Mayor's Question Time, the Lib Dems will call for Mr Livingstone to act on:-

· The failure of CCTV cameras at stations

· The confusion over whether staff should get involved in any incident

· The lack of information on whether arrests by the Met's Transport Operational Command Unit, funded by the Mayor, have led to successful prosecutions

The Liberal Democrats will be calling for the Mayor to act to tackle the failure of existing crime prevention and protection measures and staff guidelines to ensure that passenger confidence in the safety of London's public transport network is not lost.

Graham Tope said:

"It is vitally important that every possible step is taken by the police, train operating companies and the Mayor to ensure our transport network is safe and that the trust of the public is not lost.

"With the failure of the CCTV at Wood Street station, the conflicting messages about whether staff will intervene on any incident and the inability of the police to show that arrests have led to successful prosecutions, the Mayor must take urgent steps to allay any fears the public may have.

"Londoners rightly want to travel on public transport safe in knowledge that the CCTV is working, that staff will be on hand to help and that those who get caught get are dealt with effectively."

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. The Lib Dems will quiz the Mayor at Mayor's Question Time on Wednesday 15th September 2004 from 09.00hrs

Passenger safety on public transport

Question No: 1202 / 2004

Graham Tope

Of the 6,700 arrested by TOCU since its inception, how many have actually been cautioned, fined or convicted for a relevant offence; broken down by year, type of offence and sanction applied? What confidence can passengers in London using rail, Tube, bus or minicab have that Transport for London has taken effective steps to protect them against violent attacks?

2. In 2003/4, violent crime on London Underground rose by 22.1 per cent. On the mainline railway across London it increased by 8.5%; sexual offences increased by five per cent on the Tube. South London was the most crime-ridden area on Britain's railways, with 21,944 total notifiable offences (TNOs) - more than three times the rate of some areas (source: BTP Statistical Bulleting 2003/4).