Mayor's new transport policing team launches: Wandsworth
(SW11 - Thursday, 7 May, 2009)

From today, 7 May, a new policing team will patrol around Clapham Junction. Clapham Junction has become the latest location in London to benefit from extra policing of its transport system.

As part of the Mayor's commitment to increase the police presence on and around public transport a new team will patrol around Clapham Junction from today.

This follows the success of three pilot teams announced in October 2008.

The team aims to be a visible deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour around the area. They will work closely with the existing Safer Neighbourhood Teams, British Transport Police, Safer School Officers and local transport staff to ensure Londoners can move around the Capital ever more safely and confidently.

Jointly funded by Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) the nine-strong team is part of the Mayor's commitment to increasing the policing of transport hubs all over the Capital.

The new Clapham Junction team consists of a Sergeant, one Police Constable and seven Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

"One of my absolute top priorities since becoming Mayor of this great city has been to address the lack of security that Londoners, especially those in outer suburbs, felt when using our public transport.

"As well as increasing the number of police officers on our buses and tube we have created teams with specific responsibility for transport hubs. Every day thousands of Londoners use these hubs; yet while on the stump in the run up to the election last year it became plain that people just did not feel safe enough.

"The team in Clapham Junction will provide the visible reassurance that passengers have asked for."

Steve Burton, Director of Community Safety Enforcement and Policing at TfL said:

"While crime levels are low on our transport network, we know there is always more that can be done, which is why the new team in Clapham Junction has been introduced and will work closely with the other TfL funded transport policing teams in the borough.

"The thousands of police and community support officers on and around our transport system have already made a clear difference and we have no doubt that this policing boost in Wandsworth will act as a deterrent to those who intend to commit crimes in the area as well as helping to make people feel safer and more secure."

Sergeant of the new team Graeme Edwards said:

"Clapham Junction is a very busy transport hub through which thousands of people travel daily, in transition from one transport system to another, whether as part of a daily commute or for pleasure. However, as a busy crowded place it can sometimes be the focus for criminal and anti-social behaviour, which can have a disproportionate effect on the safety and well being of the transport users.

"The formation of the transport hub team aims to redress this balance, increasing security and providing a reassuring presence in the area. Through partnership working and robust high visibility policing tactics, we intend to send out a clear message that anti-social and criminal activity in and around Clapham Junction and its environs will not be tolerated."

The image is for illustrative purposes only.

Police Force: Metropolitan (London)

Address:
Clapham Junction
GREATER LONDON
SW11