In a bid to cut crimes at stations, Wandsworth teamed up with the police, train companies and passenger user groups to launch its Safer Stations initiative in 1997. The initiative aims to cut crime through preventative measures such as CCTV, better lighting, and more staff and ticket barriers. A recent council report on Safer Stations shows it has been successful, with offences down by more than 30 per cent at Wandsworths mainline and underground stations. A total of 62 per cent of all reported offences involved robbery and theft, often of mobile phones. The initiative does not include trains themselves.
Mobile phones are certainly a common factor.
The increase is also mirroring a wider trend which is occurring everywhere, where children of school age are being targeted for phones and cash. DS Barry said that 60 to 80 per cent of crime on trains and in stations in London involved the theft of mobile phones. Clapham Junction has a particularly high rate because it has many links to other parts of London so suspects can escape, he added. Let London know what you think Use our comment form to let London know your views. I'm so scared of moving to London to go to school.