From today (November 17), a programme which sees up to one hundred more officers deployed will change the way British Transport Police and London Underground (LU) police the Tube network.
The new officers - just over a 20 per cent increase in numbers - will focus BTP's resources on groups of LU stations and the communities around them to make the fight against railway crime more effective.
Under the new initiative, called Priority Policing, every one of LU's 44 station groups will have a team of between two and six BTP officers which will patrol the trains, track and stations within the group.
The extra officers are being funded by Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London through his transport body, Transport for London, at a cost of £5.4m. The Mayor is proposing to fund another 100 BTP officers next year.
Ken Livingstone said: "It is vital that people feel safe travelling on the Tube. These extra police officers will reassure passengers, and deter criminal or anti-social behaviour on the Underground.
"More visible policing is essential to cutting crime and the fear of crime, which is why I am committed to increasing the number of police officers on public transport.
"The commitment to Underground policing is consistent with my decision to increase police numbers across London - including the 900-strong force working to improve the safety, security and reliability of London's bus networks."
LU Managing Director Tim O' Toole said: "The Mayor and I have worked with BTP to provide 100 extra officers and Priority Policing is the way they will engage with the community.
"Our figures show the Tube is safer than the streets but people still feel threatened by anti-social behaviour. Such actions do not always qualify as reportable crime but have a major impact on everyone's quality of life.
"This behaviour - besides the more obvious criminal actions - is what we intend to tackle with the closer community links established by Priority Policing.
"With widespread CCTV coverage and a continual staff presence, the Tube is safe. But getting to know your local PPOs, telling them about local problems and working together to solve them, will make it safer still.
"We expect this closer liaison to be reflected in our next set of crime figures. It follows that if PPO officers are more accessible to the community, they will receive more reports of incidents. This will be a sign that Priority Policing is working and we can set about reducing the number of those incidents.
"But the Tube is still the safest way to travel and PPOs will make it even safer."
BTP Area Commander Chief Superintendent Steve Hotston said: "Priority policing is about a transport police for local people, solving local railway crime at local level.
"It's about establishing BTP as part of your rail community. That includes residents living near stations, station shopkeepers and commuters who use the station, as well as LU staff.
"Our PPOs are expected to keep a highly visible presence on local routes and to be approachable at all times. With a minimum two-year posting, they are in place for long-term problem solving.
"They are good at their jobs but no police force can be totally effective without the support and contribution of the community they protect. They need local support as much as the locals need them."
Basing officers in the railway community mirrors the way in which LU organises its staff and will encourage closer liaison between the two organisations. LU is providing offices and facilities on its station premises for Priority Policing Officers (PPOs).
Establishing closer links between Tube staff and their local BTP officers is the cornerstone of Priority Policing. Success in fighting crime and anti-social behaviour needs the active support of all parts of the community.
