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Crime on Metro is down 12 percent on Tyneside and 14 percent on Wearside in the last six months - continuing a trend that has seen incidents fall by a quarter over the previous two years. New figures released by the Northumbria Police’s Metro Unit, show that between April and September this year there were 286 recorded offences on Metro property on Tyneside, which represents a reduction of 12 percent in recorded crime on the network in Tyneside compared to the previous year. On Tyneside the number of assaults fell by seven percent, with 96 reported incidents. Theft and Robbery fell by 18 percent, with 73 reported incidents, and criminal damage was down eight percent. Figures from the British Transport Police for the Sunderland extension of Metro have also seen a drop in crime in the same period, with 214 offences, representing a reduction of 14 percent in total recorded crime. The success in tackling crime has been put down to a joint strategy between Nexus, Northumbria Police and British Transport Police, including close day-to-day working between police officers and Metro security staff, the enforcement of an alcohol exclusion zone, and the use of digital CCTV cameras. Inspector Alan Ritson, head of the Northumbria Police Metro Unit, said: “The work we are doing is proving successful and people using the system are less and less likely to become victims of crime. “We simply won't tolerate disorderly behaviour and have put a range of measures in place to ensure it's nipped in the bud and those responsible arrested.” Sgt Bob Moody, of the British Transport Police, said: “Hundreds of people travel on the Sunderland extension of Metro on daily basis and very few become a victim of crime and we want to make sure that this remains the case. “We are working hard alongside Nexus and Northumbria Police to drive down crime and cut anti-social behaviour and are committed to ensure that the Metro continues to remain a safe and enjoyable way to travel.” Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “Our determination to drive crime off the Metro is paying off. Through targeted police patrols, more staff on the system and an improved CCTV network, people can travel on the Metro with confidence. “The Metro is an extremely safe transport system and the hard work in cutting crime on the system will continue, with both Nexus and the police working closely to target the trouble makers who spoil it for the overwhelming majority of law-abiding passengers.” Figures released by Northumbria Police earlier this year showed that in the 12 months to March 2006 crime was down 19 percent on the previous period, and down 25 percent over two years. Nexus, the Metro operator, has invested heavily in its CCTV system to crackdown on crime on boards its trains and at stations. The system now has over 600 digital cameras which are monitored 24 hours a day and can be used to support prosecutions. More staff than ever before patrol the Metro network, particularly at night, through Nexus’s 18 Travel Support Officers (TSOs). This is backed up by the Police Metro Unit, which consists of 27 constables and three sergeants. Nexus meets with the police on a weekly basis to target crime hot spots on the Metro and also the known trouble-makers.
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