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Crime on the Tyne and Wear Metro has fallen for a fifth successive year, with incidents of assaults down by 20 percent and robberies down by almost 40 percent. The latest figures, released jointly by Northumbria Police, British Transport Police and Nexus, show a reduction in the major crime categories - continuing the trend of falling crime rates on Metro since 2003-04. In the financial year to April 2008 incidents of assault on Metro fell by 20 percent compared to the previous year. Robberies are down by 39 percent and public order offences dropped by 21 percent. The figures for robberies including theft from person show 75 reported in 06/07 down to 45 in 07/08. Figures for assault show 214 in 06/07 down to 171 in 07/08. Figures for public order offences show 157 in 06/07 down to 124 in 07/08.
Figures for criminal damage to stations rose 44 to 106 for the year and damage to trains from 115 to 173 for the year. This increase is down to increased reporting of graffiti on the system as Nexus strives to keep the system cleaner.
Apart from graffiti other damage to trains, such as broken windows, has decreased to 129 from the previous year's total of 176 - the lowest since records began.
Nexus customer satisfaction survey on personal security on stations and on trains continues to improve and for 07/08 it stood at 56 percent for stations and 54 percent for trains. These are the highest yearly averages recorded. The latest crime figures from the British Transport Police (BTP), who patrol the Sunderland part of the Metro line, show that crime on that section of line has also continued to fall. There was a 21 percent reduction in all crime in the last financial year. Nexus, who own and operate Metro, say the fall in the crime rate is down to increased policing on the system, intelligence-led policing operations, including plain clothed patrols, extra staff on trains in the evenings, improved CCTV, and an alcohol ban which came into force in 2004. Head of the Northumbria Police Metro Unit, Insp Alan Ritson, said: “Northumbria Police Metro unit work closely in partnership with Nexus, the Police Neighbourhood Teams and British Transport Police to maximise the potential for effective intelligence-led deployments. “Structured tasking and co-ordination meetings support intelligence sharing and joint working to maintain the continued reduction in incidents and crimes on the Metro system. “The first eight months of 2008 have shown further reductions each month in these areas compared to the same period in 2007.” Insp Iain McLaren, of British Transport Police, said: “We work closely with Nexus to make sure the Sunderland Metro is a safe environment for the traveling public. “We are delighted that crime on the system has reduced by so much but that does not mean we will become complacent. We are as determined as ever to continue to make an impact.” Metro Director, Mick Carbro, said: “Crime on Metro continues to fall for a fifth successive year and our passengers can be assured we are working hard, alongside the police, to continue this positive trend. “We meet with the police Metro unit every week and this enables us to target crime hot spots and to target specific crime and disorder issues. This is backed up by increased staffing and our network of 600 digital CCTV cameras. “Thousands of people make trouble free journeys on the Metro every day, and this really puts these low levels of crime into context. However, when an incident does occur we do all we can to ensure those responsible are brought before the courts.”
Nexus has invested heavily in its CCTV system to crackdown on crime on board 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.
The Metro fleet is currently being upgraded so that all 90 of its trains have high quality digital cameras on board.
The Metro alcohol ban was introduced in December 2004. The ban made it an offence to consume alcohol on Metro property and prohibited people from carrying any open cans or bottles containing alcohol. Transport for London brought in an identical alcohol ban on the London Underground this year.
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.
The British Transport Police (BTP) is responsible for policing the Sunderland Metro line, between Pelaw and South Hylton, and Northumbria Police cover the rest of the network.
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