"ILLEGAL ENTRIES INTO TUBE DEPOTS DOUBLE IN LAST YEAR" - POPE

11.12.18am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th May 2007

Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman on the London Assembly, Geoff Pope, has revealed figures today showing that illegal entries into Tube depots have more than doubled in the last year.

The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act by the British Transport Police, show recorded entries for damage, trespass and burglary offenses have soared from 81 in 2005 to 200 in 2006. At the same time, the number of sanctioned detections for these offenses have decreased from 11% in 2005 to a mere 5.5% in 2006.

Commenting on the figures, Geoff Pope said:

"It is seriously worrying that last year - only a year after the London bombings - there were no fewer than 200 unauthorised entries into the depots where Tube trains are kept overnight. That's almost four break-ins a week. It's bad enough that graffiti artists and vandals are breaking in to damage trains. But the public will understandably have another kind of threat on their mind.

'Despite this high number of security breaches, TfL continues to claim that London Underground's perimeter security is 'typically amongst the highest standard across the UK rail network'. If that is the case, we can only imagine what the rest of the rail network must be like.

'We cannot be too careful with security these days. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and Ken Livingstone has warned that another terrorist attack in London is all too likely. London Underground must reassure passengers that trains are scanned for bombs and other devices before they leave the depots in the early morning. Any further measures to secure the perimeter of depots will also be welcomed by Londoners." ENDS

Notes to the Editors

1. For figures on damage, trespass and burglary offenses please go to http://www.glalibdems.org.uk/manage/editresources.php?folder=Transport+issues

2. Security enhancements

Mayor Question No: 398 / 2007

Geoff Pope

In what ways are London Underground depots where Tube trains are parked overnight secured against intruders, and what steps have London Underground taken to enhance security since the recent deaths of two young graffiti artists in Barking?

Answer:

Depots where London Underground trains are stabled overnight have a range of security measures including personnel and vehicle access control, security fencing, intruder alarms, closed circuit television and security guarding.

Metronet and Tube Lines have been reminded of the need for sound security and they liaise regularly with LU and British Transport Police in efforts to prevent graffiti attacks. It is important to note that if graffiti vandals are willing to put their own personal safety in jeopardy and risk detection and arrest then any practical security measures may only delay entry. As an example, BTP investigations have found examples of vandals cutting through perimeter security immediately above a sixty foot drop.

LU's perimeter security is typically amongst the highest standard across the UK rail network.