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 16 October 2008 04:41 BST

New London bus policing scheme launched

Friday, 16 May 2008 14:56
An extra 440 uniformed police officers will patrol the capital's bus stations
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for an extra 440 uniformed police officers to patrol the capital's bus stations.

Mr Johnson launched the initiative alongside Metropolitan commissioner Sir Ian Blair and transport commissioner Peter Hendy.

The officers will patrol police hubs and their immediate vicinity in the aim of "confronting crime and anti-social behaviour as it happens and reassuring the travelling public" a statement from the mayor's office said.

"I was elected mayor because of my commitment to work tirelessly with all communities to put a stop to the violent crime and anti-social behaviour that is devastating so many lives and families across London," Mr Johnson said at the lunch earlier today.

"Recent tragic events have further highlighted the need to get a grip on crime, and the creation of these new teams, with some 440 new officers, is a crucial part of our strategy for taking back our public spaces, cutting so-called 'minor crime' and antisocial behaviour, and increasing people's sense of safety.

"This is about ensuring that Londoners can travel safely around the city, and that they can do so in confidence, reassured by a visible police presence from the moment they leave their doors, to when they are waiting for their bus, through to when they travel home at night."

Metropolitan police chief Sir Ian Blair backed the £11.3 million scheme, saying: "We are extremely grateful to the mayor and Transport for London for providing additional funding which has allowed us to enhance the service we already provide to London.

"Building on the success of the Metropolitan Safer Transport Teams and Safer Neighbourhood Teams, this additional resource will allow us to provide extra security and safety on the transport network to make using public transport as safe and enjoyable experience as possible."

Yesterday, Mr Johnson was joined by home secretary Jacqui Smith in Elephant and Castle to witness first hand the Metropolitan police's new knife crime operation Operation Blunt 2.

"Everybody is shocked by the level of violence we are seeing, particularly towards young people in London and we must work as hard as we can together to reverse this dreadful trend," the mayor announced.End of story


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