The Transport Committee of MPs is looking into security on the railway. The purpose of this inquiry is to look at crime and perceptions of crime on the railway and how these can be reduced. The Committee is particularly looking at:
Recent trends in crime and perceptions of crime on the railway;
What steps train operators and Network Rail are taking to reduce crime and perceptions of crime;
The role of the British Transport Police in reducing crime, including whether BTP’s current strategic plan is sufficiently challenging and whether the BTP has resources to deliver the plan;
Relationships between BTP and train operators and Network Rail, and BTP’s accountability to DfT and to Parliament;
Collaboration and partnership working between BTP and other police forces and the Home Office; and
the committee wishes to follow up the recommendations in its January 2012 Report Cable theft on the railway.
Transport Committee Chair, the Labour MP Louise Ellman, said: “Although overall railway crime has fallen for nine successive years, this headline statistic masks a number of disturbing trends. Offences such as phone theft, pickpocketing, common assault and racial harassment are all on the increase. The travelling public have told us that they are concerned. That is why we are launching this inquiry today.”
Among those questioned on June 23 were Baroness Kramer, Minister of State, Department for Transport; and Paul Crowther, British Transport Police Chief Constable.
