Crime is falling at railway stations across North Wales.
Written by Josh Morris Daily Post Staff reporter.
At Rhyl station, where there has been an average of 100 crimes a year in recent times, there were 67 recorded.
Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, Flint, and Wrexham General are still hotspots, but have all seen reductions in the number of crimes reported.
The most common crimes were public order offences, with 103 reported, 21 of which were deemed “serious”.
There were 24 recorded thefts from passengers, 29 instances of violence and 14 drug offences. There were also 52 instances of fraud, almost all of which were ticket offences.
Also recorded were 88 “line of route” offences, which includes trespassing on the lines, throwing stones at trains and leaving things on the tracks.
Dai Davies, British Transport Police’s Sector Inspector for North Wales, said: “These figures, in the context of record numbers of passenger journeys, show the chances of becoming a victim of crime at Rhyl – or anywhere else on the North Wales rail network for that matter - remain extremely low.
“The rail network continues to be an extremely safe way to travel; indeed, people are eight times less likely to be a victim of crime on the railways than elsewhere.
“Although the figures show the chances of becoming a victim of crime are very low and that passengers are safe, we know the perception doesn’t always match reality and it’s our aim to make sure that people are not only safe, but feel safe and secure too.
“Officer deployment has been boosted by the establishment of a Neighbourhood Policing Team covering Rhyl. Officers conduct regular, dedicated high-visibility patrols at the station and on trains to and from Rhyl, and these additional resources have been welcomed by staff and passengers.
“The presence of police officers not only provides reassurance to rail users, but also impacts on the level of crime taking place. We are also focusing our efforts on putting more officers out on patrol late at night, when we know people feel more anxious.
“The use of CCTV, both at stations and on board trains, has also assisted greatly in carrying out criminal investigations. CCTV coverage across the North Wales rail network is well established, and in many cases this has proved to be an essential tool in bringing about a successful prosecution.
“Passengers and rail staff rightly expect a safe and secure rail network and we’ll continue working hard to carry on delivering a safer travelling environment for all.
Anyone who does witness crime or anti-social behaviour on the rail network can contact BTP on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016.
