Annex B
THAMESLINK SECURITY
— Secure Stations Accreditation—22
of the 28 stations managed by Thameslink have achieved this status.
This is the highest ratio (79%) of any Train Operating Company
in the UK.
— Significant investment (£2 million)
has been made at our Metro stations in partnership with TfL over
the past two years. Improvements to security at these stations
includes Newand extended CCTV; upgrade of CCTV to Digital format;
New and improved HelpPoints; improved lighting, fencing, seating
and waiting facilities and signage.
— Dedicated CCTV monitoring centres
at Luton and Tooting.
— Dedicated security guards at several
of our central London stations.
— Deployment of security guards on
trains around the Wimbledon LoopComplete regeneration of Thameslink
managed stations on the Wimbledon Loop resulting in a drop in
crime rates and awards of Secure Station status.
— Tickets gates installed at Elstree
& Borehamwood station to ensure that only fare paying passengers
should be able to enter the station.
— Dedicated External Liaison Manager—working
closely with the community around the Wimbledon Loop—liaising
with Schools and Colleges, giving talks, encouraging good behaviour
on the railway—and rewarding pupils for good citizenship.
— Thameslink Website—Comprehensive
station database giving details of station facilities which enables
a passenger to make an informed choice of where to travel from—helping
to give a sense of safety at each station.
— Thameslink Website—link to
"The Teaching Zone" website which gives teachers the
opportunity to download lesson plans and other materials to deliver
lessons on the dangers of the railway and the benefits of good
behaviour.
— Heavy cleaning task forces—rapid
response to remove graffiti on stations Introduction of Alcohol
Free Zones at St Albans and Harpenden stations in association
with the BTP and local Authorities.
— Effective participation in BTP National
Intelligence Model Crime tasking meetings.
| Calendar Year | Total Notifiable
| Total Non Notifiable | Total All Crime
| % Change |
| 2002 | 144 | 21
| 165 | |
| 2003 | 178 | 31
| 209 | 27 |
| 2004 | 165 | 15
| 180 | -14 |
| 2005 | 158 | 21
| 179 | -1 |
There was an overall increase from 2003 which coincides with
the introduction of changed Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded
Crime. However across the board there has been a reduction in
recorded crime in successive years.
CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGY
In delivering our promise to provide a welcoming, safe and
secure railway for our passengers and staff, as detailed in our
Vision and Values. Southern will actively pursue a policy to preserve
the railway from "open access". We will introduce cost
effective measures based on the crime reduction principals of
Evaluation, Enabling, Education, Engineering and Enforcement to
control our environment and to reduce both crime and the fear
of crime on the railway. Whenever possible we will seek to achieve
this goal through the development of effective partnerships with
other stakeholders.
Our Passengers: Southern is committed to providing a
safe, secure and welcoming experience for our passengers from
the time they access the railway until they leave our care. With
this in mind, we will introduce and pursue initiatives, in support
of the National Rail Standard for Personal Security of Rail Travellers,
the National Railways Security Programme and the Rail Safety and
Standards and Board Personal Security Working Groups initiatives,
intended to increase passenger confidence and to reduce the fear
of crime.
Our Staff: Southern acknowledges its responsibility and
promise to provide a safe and pleasant working environment for
our staff. We acknowledge that in carrying out their jobs some
of our staff may face hostility and personal danger. We will ensure
that staff likely to experience confrontation are aware of potential
risks to their personal safety and are provided with adequate
and appropriate training. Whenever possible the Company will also
provide technical or physical support to enhance the personal
safety of vulnerable staff. Whenever a member of staff becomes
the victim of crime we will ensure that support, counselling and
legal advice is provided.
Our Stations and Environs: Southern recognises that our
stations are the gateway to the rail infrastructure and as such
provide the means to control the railway and to preserve the network
from "open access". We will introduce access control
through the appropriate use of automatic gating and staffed gate
lines. We will work towards the introduction of an integrated
system of passenger information and actively monitored CCTV surveillance
designed to reinforce our promise to maintain a safe and secure
railway environment. We will adopt a policy of continual improvement
in the maintenance, management and appearance of our stations
and car parks, in appropriate cases seeking accreditation for
stations under the DfT "Secure Stations" initiative
and/or accreditation for Car parks under the Secured by Design
"Park Mark" scheme. We will fully comply with the requirement
of the National Railways Security Programme.
Our Trains: Southern recognises that poor design features
in rolling stock provide opportunities for criminal and anti social
conduct which has a significant impact on reliability, on the
comfort and safety of our passengers and on company profitability.
We will work in partnership with Rolling Stock Leasing Companies
and our own Engineers to improve the design of existing stock
and to remove or redesign features vulnerable to misuse. For new
trains we will work in close co-operation with the builders in
adopting a policy of "secured by design" which will
minimise opportunities for vandalism, anti-social behaviour and
misuse of vehicles. Where appropriate we will enhance security
on services through the presence of trained Security Staff and
greater staff visibility.
Our Timetable: We understand the annoyance and inconvenience
caused to our passengers by the cancellation and delays to train
services as a consequence of the irresponsible and criminal acts
of, a minority. Southern will work with other railway partners
to preserve the railway from "open access" and to eliminate
delay and losses arising from external factors.
Young People: Southern acknowledges and welcomes responsible
use of the railway by young people. Together with other industry
partners we will adopt an education and marketing strategy intended
to ensure that young people appreciate the value of rail travel
but are also aware of the inherent dangers to themselves and others
if the environment is misused.
Other Organisations: Southern believes that maintaining
a secure and a safe railway environment cannot be achieved alone,
but depends upon a commitment from all members of the Railway
Industry and external agencies to the principals of crime reduction.
The Company will actively encourage other stakeholders to share
our vision for a secure railway environment. To achieve our goals
we will work in partnership with others, including but not exclusively,
the British Transport Police, Civil Police, DfT and other Government
Agencies, Transport for London, Network Rail, Rail Safety &
Standards Board, Health and Safety Executive, Other Train Operating
Companies, Rolling Stock Leasing Companies, Industry, Local Crime
& Disorder Reduction Partnerships, Local Authorities, Schools
and Youth Organisations.
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