TRAIN OPERATORS DEDICATE STAFF TO SUPPORT NEW LONDON RAILWAY POLICING TEAMS

TRAIN Operators have welcomed the initiative launched on 6 January 2009 by the Mayor of London to fund an additional 50 British Transport Police (BTP) officers to be deployed around the London suburban rail network with the aim of further reducing crime at key stations.

Train Operating Companies (TOC) operating in the areas covered by the seven new BTP teams funded by the Mayor of London have responded positively to this move. While the details are still being finalised with the BTP, TOCs are expected to dedicate around 50 of their own staff to work with the BTP teams.

The additional support is on top of major investment made by train operating companies to boost personal security including the installation of CCTV on trains and stations and increased numbers of security staff as well as increased funding to British Transport Police, now £116 million a year nationally.

In London alone, train operators are providing significant investment beyond their franchise commitments in the safety and security of passengers, in the form of additional security staff and enhanced police service agreements (£9 million per annum).

Michael Roberts, ATOC Chief Executive, said:- “Rail passengers have a right to travel in safety. London train operators have invested beyond their franchise commitments to tackle crime on the capital’s rail network, including CCTV on trains and stations alongside increased funding for security staff and the British Transport Police.

While crime across the London network is now low and continues to fall, the Mayor’s initiative will provide even greater reassurance to passengers. London train companies will be actively complementing the new policing teams by providing an equivalent number of dedicated security staff and revenue protection officers as well as office accommodation.”

Do you feel we need more British Transport Police (BTP) officers to be deployed here on Merseyside? Email us your views to news24@southportreporter.com.

Christmas tree collection service 09

FORMBY scouts are once again offering a Christmas tree collection service on Saturday and Sunday 10 January and 11 January 2009.

For a donation of just £3.00, your Christmas trees will be taken to Formby Point for dune restoration work.  Please call 07772841619 to arrange collection.

First fully secure rail network in the UK!

MERSEYRAIL Electrics have become the first fully secure rail network in the UK.

All 66 stations have now been awarded the coveted “secure station” status after visits by the British Transport Police on behalf of the Department for Transport in association with Crime Concern.

The last three stations which have now achieved secure status are Sandhills, Little Sutton and Overpool.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel and a Member of the TravelSafe Board, said:- “This is a unique achievement which will be welcomed by the growing number of passengers who use the network every year.

They can do so in the knowledge that they are travelling on one of the UK’s safest rail networks.”

Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel, said:- “This is yet another historic milestone in the progress of Merseyrail Electrics since we took control five and a half years ago as part of our overall strategy to provide a single integrated transport network that is accessible to everyone.”

Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail’s Managing Director said:- “When others in the rail industry told us that it was impossible to have our entire network accredited as secure, we decided that we would prove them wrong – and we have proved in other areas such as our pioneering approach to anti-social behaviour on trains.”

Having gained secure station status the network will be regularly re-assessed to ensure that high standards are maintained.

Tough industry standards evaluate safety measures including CCTV, design standards of both buildings and facilities and the quality of customer service.

Merseytravel and Merseyrail worked with British Transport Police and Carlisle Security on the unprecedented achievement.

The task of accrediting all stations on the Merseyrail network began in July 2004, when Ormskirk was the first to receive a “Secure Station” award.

In addition, a total of 95 per cent of Merseyrail’s car parks, 34 out of 36, have achieved “Secure Car Park” status.