Railways crime figure shock revealed.
27/5/04
Shocking new figures compiled by the British Transport Police reveal that crime on our railways has risen by almost 30% since 1997.
The figures show that reported crime on trains, stations and railway property rose from 107,769 in 1998-1999 to 123,463 in 2003-2004. At the same time detection rates fell from 30% to 21%.
Sex attacks leapt from 719 to 1,120, acts of vandalism rose from 7,835 to 11,720, whilst assaults on station staff almost doubled from 1,297 to 2,273.
The figures were greeted with dismay by local Conservative spokesman, Gordon Henderson, who called for immediate action to protect the travelling public.
Mr Henderson said:
‘These really are quite shocking figures. At a time when the Government appears to be deliberately pushing up fuel prices in an attempt to force motorists to abandon their cars and use public transport, we are witnessing an ever increasing risk of travellers being attacked on trains.
‘How on earth can we expect our wives and daughters to use trains, particularly late at night, if they are at an ever increasing risk from thugs and rapists?
‘If the Government is really serious about encouraging the use of public transport, then it must ensure that, as a very minimum, public transport is safe to use. What we need are more security guards and police at stations and on trains.’
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Contact details for Gordon Henderson
Day time telephone: 07866 719923
Evening telephone: 01795 669108
Fax: 01795 666998