Revealed: the Tube stations where crime could rise when Night Tube starts

Brixton station is one of the places earmarked for extra patrols

A dozen underground stations in London have been identified by police as at risk of increased crime and anti-social behaviour when the Night Tube is launched, it was revealed today.

The locations have been classified by police as “red stations” and earmarked for extra patrols when the new night service gets under way.

The stations are listed by British Transport Police as Camden Town, London Bridge, North Greenwich, Vauxhall, Brixton, Waterloo, Oxford Circus, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross, Victoria and Hammersmith.

A report by the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee entitled “Crime on public transport” published today describes emerging concerns over crime on the night Tube.

The 12 stations

Camden Town

London Bridge

North Greenwich

Vauxhall

Brixton

Waterloo

Oxford Circus

Leicester Square

Piccadilly Circus

Charing Cross

Victoria

Hammersmith

It highlights an internal risk assessment by Transport for London (TfL) which states that sexual offences and other crimes are likely to increase when the service is introduced - despite claims by the Met that levels of crime will not change.

The TfL report predicts that anti-social behaviour will also rise, causing “high crime levels” and a “rowdy environment.”

There are also concerns that end of line stations could see a rise in crime, particularly alcohol-related disturbances and taxi touting.

The Assembly report says the Met is working with BTP to set up extra patrols at key stations including the 12 “red” stations “to mitigate risk, crime and anti-social behaviour.”

The Met also has concerns about Walthamstow Central, Stratford and Camden.

Police and crime committee chairwoman Joanne McCartney said: “London has one of the largest public transport systems in the world, carrying around ten million passengers every day.

Crime on public transport is relatively low, but the network faces a number of key challenges which mean that complacency is not an option for the incoming Mayor. How will police and TfL maintain the safety of Londoners on a 24 hour tube service? “

Hopes that the 24 hour service could be running this summer were raised earlier this year when Underground train drivers voted to accept a pay deal for the service, however two unions have still not agreed a deal and there is no fixed launch date.

BTP said it had recruited an extra 62 officers to patrol the night Tube so far.

Superintendent Chris Horton of BTP said there would be a permanent presence at key stations and mobile teams would travel the Northern, Piccadilly, Central, Victoria and Jubilee lines throughout the night.

He said : “A network of BTP rapid response vehicles across London will also be in place to ensure police will be ready to attend any incident quickly.”

Steve Griffiths, London Underground’s chief operating officer, said: “Crime on our network is at a record low for the ninth consecutive year, having fallen by over 12 per cent in the last year alone, and is one of the safest in the world.

"We will continue to work with the police and have more than 100 police officers on duty each night to keep people safe and secure.”

The London Assembly report also raises concern over rises in the number of sex and violence offences on the bus, Tube and train networks in London - despite overall falling crime.

It also highlights how 32 per cent of women say they expect to take unlicensed minicabs despite the risks of sexual assault.

The study recomends the new Mayor should explore how to increase people’s confidence to report sexual offences and calls for greater penaltieis for taxi touting.

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