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TfL and Croydon Council join forces to make the borough’s buses even safer

Bus passengers in Croydon should notice an increase in the number of uniformed officers on their journeys from today. Transport for London (TfL) has given Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers in the borough passes to use the buses when on their patrols.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: “I want people in Croydon to feel 100 per cent safe to use public transport. Giving the Neighbourhood Enforcement teams passes is an absolute no brainer as far as I'm concerned as seeing the extra officers will provide great reassurance for local people using these buses.

Passes will initially be given to 14 Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers and four additional Croydon Council staff, on a twelve month trial basis and will allow them to travel around Croydon as part of their patrols. They will also join the Safer Transport Teams on specific transport safety schemes. This joint initiative will allow TfL and Croydon Council to work together to deploy resources in the best possible way across the borough and its transport network

Councillor Gavin Barwell, Croydon cabinet member for community safety and cohesion, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in this new scheme with TfL, which will see Croydon’s NEOs issued with Bus Bearer passes to use on the borough’s bus network.

“They will be able travel on the buses, providing extra reassurance to passengers, as part of their regular patrols to help prevent and tackle crime.”

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

“Whilst crime on Croydon’s buses is low and has seen a 24 per cent reduction since last year, we know that there’s always more that can be done.

“We understand that anti-social behaviour can fuel a disproportionate fear of crime, which is why we are trialling the use of the bus passes for Croydon’s wardens. This way they’ll be able to use Croydon’s buses during their regular patrols increasing the visibility of uniformed officers, reassuring passengers and dissuading anti-social behaviour from happening in the first place.”

George Meloy, Acting Inspector, Croydon Safer Transport Team said: "The Croydon Safer Transport Team has worked together with council colleagues, including the Mobile Enforcement Unit and more recently the NEOs, to make a real impact on anti-social behaviour and crime in and around the borough's transport hubs and on the bus networks.

"However, we recognise that we can further reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in these areas, and the NEOs working on Croydon's buses will help us to achieve this. My colleagues and I remain committed to improving the safety of all transport users in Croydon, both young and old."

Published: Thu 23 Jul 2009Modified: Thu 23 Jul 2009Archived: Thu 13 Aug 2009

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