A report by crime reduction charity Nacro, published today, argues that Government efforts to persuade more of us out of our cars and on to trains and buses are being undermined by the effects of crime and vandalism on Britain’s beleaguered public transport network.
According to the briefing, ‘Getting there: Reducing crime on public transport’, one quarter of a billion pounds is being lost each year because of incidents of vandalism and trespass, with the enormous costs to the network severely compromising investment in improved services and rolling stock.
In addition, the disruption caused by these incidents gives rise to 700,000 delay minutes per year, further aggravating existing high rates of passenger dissatisfaction.
Those most dependent are clearly the most affected, and in failing to tackle transport crime, the report suggests that society is effectively guilty of discriminating against people unable to afford or drive their own private form of transport.
The socially excluded are also most affected by fear of public transport crime. In deprived wards, where the risk of being a victim of crime is greatest, around 50% of households do not own a car.
Fear of crime is cited too as a major hindrance to boosting passenger numbers, deterring those who do have private vehicles from making more use of public services. The Government’s 10 year plan, Transport 2010, highlighted the role of public transport in reducing congestion and pollution by cutting the number of journeys made by car.
Helen Easton of Nacro’s Crime Reduction Directorate said,
“One third of British households do not own a car, so as many as 13 million of us have to rely on trains and buses to get to work and access key local services. But it is vitally important that public transport is not ghettoised. It is the key to easing the current gridlock in our towns and cities.
“Having an effective crime prevention strategy is essential in ensuring that services are safe, reliable and can provide a viable alternative to making journeys by car.”
Key findings, recommendations and examples of good practice:
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Developing a crime prevention strategy is difficult for local authorities and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) because public transport crosses administrative boundaries
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CDRPs should involve local public transport providers and the British Transport Police in gathering information on the crime problems affecting public transport in the locality and together agree and implement strategies to combat them.
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London Underground estimates that it would cost them £10 million to replace etched glass on all its rolling stock. The estimated cost of graffiti to London boroughs and transport operators is around £13 million per year.
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Crime is costing Stagecoach Manchester £500,000 per year. However the report cites its anti-vandalism strategy, aimed at building bridges with local children as an example of good practice. Similarly London Central Buses employs a Schools Liaison Officer to encourage them to report incidents of vandalism.
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Contact: Adrian Thomas; 020 7840 6497 (direct line), 07974 189 979 (mobile).
Or Vanessa Livingstone, 020 7840 6759 (direct line)
Out of hours pager service: 07693 305899
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07971 795 128 (mobile)
Notes to editors
‘Getting there: Reducing crime on public transport’ is written by Helen Easton and Frances Smith and is published by Nacro’s crime reduction directorate. Copies cost £5.00 and are available when calling 020 7501 0555
2. Nacro, the crime reduction charity, is dedicated to making society safer. It has an unrivalled expertise in developing effective solutions to crime and stimulating fresh thinking on how best to reduce it, based on over 30 years of experience. Combining practical services to individuals, communities and organisations with pioneering campaigns, Nacro lobbies for better ways to reduce crime, while demonstrating how this might be done in practice.
