c2c passenger safety campaign

3:38am Monday 12th March 2007

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POLICE and rail bosses have joined forces to make passengers feel safer while travelling on trains.

Rail operator c2c launched a new leaflet, called Securely Yours, with British Transport Police at Fenchurch Street station, the London terminus of the c2c line.

The leaflet aims to reassure people they are safe travelling on the railway and explains some of the measures taken to keep passengers secure, such as CCTV and police patrols.

The launch followed a c2c survey which found more than 30 per cent of passengers feared for their safety on trains between Shoebury and Fenchurch Street.

Ian Johnston, Chief Constable of the transport police, said the number of crimes on the c2c line had dropped in the past few months from around three a day to two a day.

He said: "We want to reassure the public that their risk of becoming a victim of crime while travelling on the railway is actually very low indeed.

"For these people who don't feel safe, we want to let them know what we are doing to keep them safe."

Mr Johnston added: "There are about two crimes a day on the c2c network now. Over the past year, there have about 1,000 crimes which comes from about 24 million passengers - although obviously even one is too many."

British Transport Police have increased patrols on all railways nationally, with an extra 500 officers and 250 police community support officers in the past two years.

Mark Hopwood, c2c managing director, said crime was falling as a result of more investment in CCTV and an increase in staff.

He said: "One of the things our customers have expressed is concern for their personal safety and security. When we compare statistics to people's perception of crime, there is a gulf between the two.

"Over the past three months, c2c and British Transport Police have worked on a number of operations aimed at reducing ticketless travel and associated crime.

"Research shows most crime on stations and trains is committed by people without tickets."

The rail company is also experimenting with a camera mounted on the front of a train.

The camera is designed to record evidence of graffiti vandals and other trespassers on the side of the track, as well as crime on the platforms.