Southeastern & British Transport Police create new police team for London area
British Transport Police and Southeastern have launched a new joint team working in south east London and parts of Kent to patrol Metro stations and trains.
Metro is the name given to suburban services operated by Southeastern generally running to Dartford with some extending towards Medway.
In the first week of operations at Welling station there were six arrests including two for knife possession. Other action was conducted at Abbey Wood and Dartford
The new team follows a long line of action across various stations which has seen metal detectors installed and led to a number of arrests across the network. Over the past year a firearm was discovered at Hither Green and a number of arrests made at stations such as Plumstead and Woolwich Arsenal.
One of the first operations at Plumstead saw 123 people caught without tickets.
The new team appears to formalise these joint operations dating back to 2019.
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Why not employ members of staff to ensure tickets are bought and used? People still regard this line as a jump on, jump off experience.
That’s what TfL proposed. Franchises only do so if the DfT requests when awarding franchises. No point a company hiring many staff if they lose the franchise shortly after. All now in limbo anyway as DfT have even more power!
It’s about time someone has realised that the amount of money walking through the gates at unmanned stations isn’t small change!
Now, if someone at Greenwich Council would get serious about parking enforcement…
Absolutely agree with both of the above comments, Hundreds of thousand of pounds are lost in fare revenue on public transport to fare evasion.
Much more needs to be done to tackle fare evasion. Also all stations should need to be staffed from first to last trains.
I also agree with Paul SuperUnknown someone really does need to get serious about parking enforcement on Greenwich Council.
Have a look at the ‘commuters’ who leave the train at Woolwich Arsenal where the the Oyster validators are located on up services next to the car park. Quick tap and then back on the train.
They know which carriage to use for this scam.
Yup, happens a bit at Charlton as well. Took me a little bit to twig what was going on.
Okay certianly one for the Station staff at Woolwich Arsenal to keep an eye on !!
Fare evasion cost TFL, Train Operators etc millions of pounds in lost revenue which could go towards employing more station staff, revenue inspectors and improving services and rolling stock,
The problem is just as bad on the buses and has not helped TFL with their current financial situation,