From
WalesOnline:
Wales^ train stations are blighted by drunks, drug abusers, perverts and sex attackers, it can be revealed today.
A Wales on Sunday investigation has revealed the full extent of railway crime and exposed the nation^s most dangerous stations. It comes after a new survey of passengers found that one in 10 women in Wales have been put off travelling by train because of safety fears. There are now calls for more staff, stronger security measures and an extended booze ban on some of the most trouble-hit lines.
In response to the level of concern British Transport Police (BTP▸ ) today announced a new campaign to target three of the most trouble-prone stations. Official BTP figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show 3,673 crimes were recorded on the Welsh railway network over the past three years. More than one in three offences related to public order ^ often fuelled by alcohol ^ such as racial abuse, harassment and smoking on board. They also included 189 assaults, eight sex attacks, four lewd sex acts, four flashers, dozens of drug offences and one murder.
However, it seems the war on crime is reaping some success as the number of offences has dropped by 21% in the past year.
Cardiff Central has the highest number of incidents of criminal activity, with 1,078 crimes recorded between April 2007 and April 2010. The capital^s station had 248 public order-related cases, 217 of theft, 123 of harassment, 115 drug offences, 56 drunk and disorderly cases and 25 assaults. Swansea (273), Newport (199), Pontypridd (157) and Neath (149) also top the list of the five most crime-ridden stations.
Railway staff said the late night run between Cardiff and the Valleys on Friday and Saturday nights was particularly notorious. Pontypridd station recorded a dozen assault victims, 46 public order or harassment incidents and nine people caught with weapons.
Greg Harrison, Cardiff branch secretary for the union RMT▸ , which represents drivers and guards, said carriages were often packed with drunk revellers. ^Very often it^s good natured, but you only need one incident of trouble and very quickly it snowballs, putting our members and the public at risk,^ he said. Calling for improved CCTV▸ and lighting, he added: ^Our members are subjected to a whole spectrum of offensive behaviour everyday. It^s everything from people being just loud right the way through to physical attacks. We have got people off work at the moment after being threatened with weapons, simply for doing their job.^
Pontypridd^s Labour MP▸ Owen Smith was shocked by the high number of violent crimes at his local station. ^I am horrified that Pontypridd should feature so highly on this list, but we know that we have a problem in our society, in particular with young people and knives,^ he said. ^Although violent crime has reduced in recent years, we clearly need to discourage the carrying of knives to tackle violence in all of our public places.^
Cardiff Central AM Jenny Randerson, the Liberal-Democrat spokesman for transport, called for more lines to be alcohol-free. Booze is banned on all South Wales Valley lines between Pontypridd and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr, as well as between Caerphilly and Rhymney. ^I personally feel very intimidated on trains late at night when you have groups of people, mainly youngsters, who are drinking heavily,^ she said. ^I would not like to see that (a total ban), but there might be times where we can use this ban rather more frequently, such as during football matches. However, I don^t think everyone who travels from North to South Wales for four and half hours should have to go without a drink.^
A survey by the railway watchdog found 3% of male passengers and 9% of female Arriva Trains Wales passengers had avoided travelling by train because of security fears. The report, carried out by Passenger Focus, found that 63% of passengers were satisfied with security at stations, compared with 65% in the rest of Britain. ^Wales lags behind the British average when it comes to safety and security on the station,^ Simon Pickering, from Passenger Focus, said. ^It reflects that there are a large number of un-staffed stations. Staff are the number one contributor to making people feel safe while travelling on the railway.^
BTP said crime figures for end of line stations could be inflated as offences committed onboard trains were recorded against the final stop. Police also revealed new plans to target crime at Swansea, Newport and Cardiff Queen Street. The stations were chosen after survey findings by Passenger Focus. The campaign will include extra lighting, security cameras and increased patrols by BTP officers between 8pm and 2am. However, a BTP spokesman said the force, which has 61 officers and plans to recruit another two this year, wasn^t immune from the public service spending cuts proposed in London. ^BTP does not yet know the full scale of the challenges the force faces but it is fully aware of the need to be flexible, proactive and forward thinking to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead,^ he said.
An Arriva spokeswoman said its private security staff had taken civil action for breaches of railway byelaws 150 times in the past 12 months. The firm has also hired 21 PCSOs as part of a joint sponsorship agreement with the BTP and Assembly Government. ^The safety of passengers and staff is paramount and Arriva Trains Wales works closely with the BTP and other agencies to achieve this aim. A number of initiatives have been implemented to create a safer and more welcoming railway,^ she said. ^These include educating young people about the dangers of trespass and the consequences of anti-social behaviour and the trialling of extended gating hours at stations. An alcohol ban has also been imposed on some routes to reduce anti-social behaviour and in particular to deter under-age drinking.^
Almost half of all railway offences in Wales were committed by young people, a Network Rail spokesman said. ^Unlike cars, trains cannot swerve and can take the length of 20 football pitches to stop. The consequences from railway crimes are serious and we want to prevent them from happening,^ she said.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones earlier this week announced a ^21m boost to improve train stations across West Wales and the Valleys. Under the Wales Enhanced Station Improvement plans, dozens of stations will get new CCTV, park and ride schemes and information.
