According to research conducted by Group 4 Securicor, 74% of the UK’s adult population would feel safer when travelling by rail if there were a visible presence of uniformed security officers on the platforms or trains when they were making their journey. The research also shows that 20% of British adults admit to being more afraid of travelling on mainline trains or the London Underground than they were at this time in 2003.

Mike Goldsmith – head of rail security for Group 4 Securicor’s manned security business – told SMT: “Employing a highly visible uniformed security presence would help assuage the fears of the public when travelling on the railways. Additionally, visible security can help the rail operators reduce assaults on both staff and passengers, while cutting back on criminal damage and vandalism.”

Goldsmith is a firm believer that the rail operators need to take proactive steps to ensure passengers feel safe and secure when travelling. “Our experience has shown that there has been a significant reduction in criminal behaviour whenever security officers are located at stations.”

Source

SMT