Local Rail Station Safety Moves

12.02.55pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Mar 2004

MP Vincent Cable awarded "secure station" status to staff from Teddington and St Margaret's in recognition of their achievements in improving passenger safety and security. These two stations - and 168 others - have been singled out, amongst thousands of stations, for the award.

As part of the emphasis on greater station security the number of CCTV cameras at Teddington will increase this year from 4 to 9 and St Margaret's from 4 to 11.

Vincent Cable said he was "very pleased with the improvements. The railways are getting ahead rapidly in installing effective CCTV cameras and I welcome their determination to make passengers feel safe and stations less prone to graffiti and vandalism".

"This won't stop me criticising SW Trains over erratic services and unsatisfactory numbers of trains from both stations. But they deserve congratulations for getting something right. I also recognise the good work of the new travel safe officers who patrol stations and trains to stop anti-social and criminal behaviour."