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Mayor to put more police on buses Mayor unveils bus policing plan
(about 2 hours later)
Mayor Boris Johnson is to announce plans to boost policing on bus routes across London. An extra 440 uniformed police staff are to be drafted in to patrol major London bus stations to "take back our public places", Mayor Boris Johnson has said.
About 440 uniformed police staff are to be drafted onto buses and transport hubs, he will announce later. The £11.3m scheme is aimed at stamping out "minor crime", which was a key part of Mr Johnson's election manifesto.
He hopes the plan will provide reassurance to passengers and will act as a deterrent to people wanting to commit anti-social behaviour. He stressed the need for extra policing following "recent tragic events".
Stamping out minor crime and disorder was a key part of Mr Johnson's election manifesto. Last year BBC London reported that youth crime on buses had risen by 55% since the introduction of free bus travel for under 16-year-olds in 2005.
Last year BBC London reported that youth crime on buses had risen by 55% since the introduction of free bus travel for under 16-year-olds. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy joined the mayor at West Croydon Bus Garage in south London at the launch of the initiative.
Safer transport teams 'Tragic events'
There were 5,701 reports in the year since the scheme went live in September 2005 compared to 3,666 in the previous year, official figures show. The 440 officers will be divided into teams of a sergeant, a constable and seven PCSOs. The teams will staff major bus stations and their immediate surrounds.
Mr Johnson said: "We are to double up the safer transport teams. These officers will be in addition to 1,200 uniformed officers already in place who patrol on buses and around bus routes.
"We are going to have many more uniformed officers at transport hubs, and we are going make sure that if teenagers misbehave on the buses then we are going to take away their right of free travel." Another 440 officers are also already in place from Safer Transport Teams, deployed in 21 outer London boroughs.
The mayor will be joined Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy at West Croydon Bus Garage in south London to launch the initiative. The new scheme will see teams focussing on three areas in London - West Croydon, Wood Green in Haringey and Canning Town in Newham.
Mr Johnson said: "Recent tragic events have further highlighted the need to get a grip on crime...
"...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 anti-social behaviour, and increasing people's sense of safety."
Figures obtained by BBC London under the Freedom of Information Act showed there were 5,701 reports of crime on buses in 2007, compared to 3,666 the previous year.