Note by British Transport Police (RT 45)
LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEMS
As you will be aware the British Transport Police
have considerable experience of policing Light Rapid Transit Systems
and in consequence I ask the Committee to accept our submission
that the safety and security of any transportation system (new
or established), whether it be light rail or heavy rail, is of
the utmost importance to the System's long-term business and social
success.
A system that has an inappropriate level of
policing, inadequate criminal legislation and insufficient crime
prevention measures in place allows a cycle of criminality to
be established that is extremely difficult to eradicate. It follows
that new legislation establishing new Light Rapid Transit Systems
essentially needs to incorporate byelaw, trespass and stonethrowing
offences as well as a specific requirement for policing from either
a Home Office Force or the British Transport Police.
Whilst the Force fully supports the development
of Light Rapid Transit Systems as part of an integrated approach
to public transport matters, we do ask that safety and security
measures are placed very high on the agenda of matters you consider.
Alan Parker
Deputy Chief Constable
27 January 2000
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