Oral Answers to Questions

Heidi Alexander Excerpts

Monday 27th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[James Brokenshire]

My hon. Friend has made his own representation through the point he has raised, but I absolutely support his recognition of the work the Government have done for those on low pay, and in taking people out of the tax system altogether.

[Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab)]

17. What recent assessment she has made of the level of crime on public transport in London.

[The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims (Damian Green)]

The latest figures show that the risk of becoming a victim of crime while travelling on Transport for London’s transport system is now at its lowest level since recording began in 2004.

[Heidi Alexander]

The Minister will know that the Mayor of London has announced the wholesale closure of ticket offices across London. Does he accept that slashing staff levels will leave many commuters more fearful of crime and that it calls into question the ability of busy stations to respond to emergencies?

[Damian Green]

I do not accept that because those staff will be redeployed to work outside the ticket offices—not behind barriers but actually among passengers. Like me, I am sure the hon. Lady will welcome the fact that not only has crime fallen by 5.5% on the underground, but that bus-related crime has fallen by 3.2%. In Lewisham, bus-related crime fell by almost 14% compared with 2011-12, which I am sure she and her constituents will welcome.