Transport Police Get Tough On Train Thugs

1.11.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th Jan 2004

After reports of assaults on trains and gangs of youths from outside the borough causing trouble in centres like Hampton Wick after leaving the station, the British Transport Police have teamed up with South West Trains to deter vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

A team of 18 travel safe officers has been hired by SW Trains to work with the Transport Police to provide greater security on stations and trains. The team will soon operate from Richmond (currently they are based at Clapham Junction) and will concentrate on 'hot spots' like Kingston and Hampton Wick.

After Superintendent Price of the British Transport Police wrote to Vincent Cable to explain the new initiative Vincent Cable said that "I am pleased that the police and the train operators are getting their act together. Hitherto we have had several police divisions, several councils, the British Transport Police and SW Trains all trying to deal with the same gangs of trouble makers. There is now a concerted approach and I hope there will be an effective deterrent in future. In particular the popular dodge of groups of people getting off at Hampton Wick to evade fares and the police while heading for the clubs of Kingston - and causing mayhem on the way - will hopefully be tackled in a more concerted way".