Crime being driven off the Metro system

Dec 12 2006 By The Journal

Police and Metro bosses yesterday hailed new figures that show crime is continuing to fall on the Tyne and Wear transport system.

Overall crime on the Metro is down 12% on Tyneside and 14% on Wearside in the last six months. Statistics released yesterday by the Northumbria Police Metro Unit show that between April and September this year there were 286 recorded offences on Metro property on Tyneside. That included 96 assaults - a drop of 7% - and 73 theft and robbery incidents - an 18% fall. Figures from British Transport Police show 214 offences on the system's Sunderland extension.

Insp Alan Ritson, head of the Northumbria Police Metro Unit, said: "The work we are doing is proving successful and people using the system are less and less likely to become victims of crime."

Bernard Garner, director general of Metro operator Nexus, said: "Our determination to drive crime off the Metro is paying off."