Department of Transport

John Bowis issues ‘secure stations’ challenge to rail industry
_______________________________________________________________

date 15 October 1996
source Department of Transport
type Press release

note 317

Transport Minister John Bowis today challenged Britain's rail
companies to improve security at their stations and to display to
their customers that their stations are virtually crime-free zones.

The Minister asked the industry to join with the Government to
develop a national 'Secure Stations' scheme. This would bring
recognition to those operators and stations that had made particular
efforts to ensure their customers' personal security.

Mr Bowis said:

"Public transport provide safe travel and the majority of our railway
stations are safe places to travel from.

"Unfortunately there is a public perception that our trains and
stations provide an environment where they are not secure from crime.

"Much has already been done around the country by our rail operators
and police forces to dispel that notion. In particular, Chiltern
Railways, LTS Rail, South Eastern Trains, Thameslink and ScotRail
have implemented schemes to substantially increase the visible levels
of personal security offered to their customers.

"A national initiative would provide recognition to such successful
schemes, establish standards for best practice and accredit
individual stations which had worked with local British Transport
Police to implement security measures. "The success of such a scheme
would be measured not only in reduced crime levels, increased
passenger numbers and a boost in public confidence.

"As our railway industry enters a new era of private ownership and
competition, it is in the interests of both operators and customers
for successes to be publicised. I am confident that the industry
will welcome such a scheme and meet the challenge which it offers."

Mr Bowis also announced that the Department of Transport is
commissioning research to examine whether the public perception of
the risk of crime on public transport stops them from using it and
what operators can do to make passengers feel more secure.

The Minister said that guidelines were being issued to help operators
to assess their own infrastructure and procedures on the grounds of
personal security.

"Personal security is important to all of us," he said. "It is in
the best interests of all those involved in public transport to
underline to their customers the measures that are in place to
enhance this."

Railhub Archive ::: 1996-10-15 DoT-001