Barnet, Hillingdon and Harrow Safer Transport Teams, co-funded by Transport for London (TfL), conducted Operation Quash to tackle crime and disorder on commonly shared transport routes in February.
Quote:
We are joining forces and showing there are no borders when it comes to fighting crime – Steve Burton, Director of Community Safety Enforcement and Policing at TfL
The exercise, on 12 February involved 22 police officers, 32 police community safety officers (PCSOs) and 39 Revenue Protection Inspectors (RPIs) from TfL.
It resulted in Inspectors checking the tickets of 3,002 passengers travelling on 166 buses.
This is the first in a series of exercises working in partnership with London Buses Revenue Protection Inspectors (RPIs), London Underground Crime and Disorder Partnership Unit Revenue Control Inspectors (RCIs), MPS Transport Operational Command Unit (TOCU) and Met Special Constabulary.
Police operation
Steve Burton, Director of Community Safety Enforcement and Policing at TfL said: ‘With operations like this one being conducted in north London, we are joining forces and showing there are no borders when it comes to fighting crime.
‘Whilst crime on our network is low there is always more that can be done.
‘Joint, high visibility operations such as Quash are a good deterrent to anyone intending to commit a crime or travel without a valid ticket on our network.
‘In addition, by June 2009, all three boroughs will benefit from extra policing teams, which will be based around transport hubs in their area.
‘These will complement the existing Safer Transport Teams (STTs), who patrol the bus network and the British Transport Police working on our trains and stations.’
Sergeant Lee Cannon, Safer Transport Team, Barnet Police, said: ‘Barnet, Harrow and Hillingdon STTs have, in the past, independently run many successful operations.
‘This was an ideal opportunity for us to deploy to an entire length of one part of the transport network, focusing on the underground, buses and transport hubs.
‘For example, stretching through Mill Hill to Ruislip, the 114 is one of the longest routes around and goes through many different areas.
Crime on the network
‘This operation was in direct response to requests made by operators with buses going through specific areas who were receiving a higher than average level of complaints ranging from low-level disorder to fraud and other violent offences.
‘The results really speak for themselves and are a testament to the dedication and hard work of all those involved.’
Inspector Andy Jones, Safer Transport Team, Hillingdon, said: ‘Hillingdon Borough were only too pleased to be a part of this cross Borough and multi agency operation.
‘The transport routes do not recognise Borough boundaries or policing primacy, so to join forces with our colleagues and partners makes us more effective in dealing with the range of issues that we face on our transport networks.
‘Operation Quash has brought all the units involved together and lays the foundation for operations such as this in the future.’
The teams employed a variety of tactics to target known offenders, provide a visible presence and to positively deal with offences.
