Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will bring forward proposals to require train operating companies to install and maintain CCTV systems in train carriages for the purposes of crime deterrence and detection.

The Government has no current plans to introduce a mandate requiring the installation of CCTV in all train carriages, however most new train procurements since 1996 have included provision of CCTV. National Rail Contracts and Service Agreements between the Government and train operators do impose obligations that where CCTV is installed or upgraded, operators are contractually required to comply with relevant CCTV guidance and industry standards.

Where CCTV is provided, train operators are expected to follow the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Rail Industry Standard for On-Train Camera Monitoring Systems. This standard sets out requirements for camera placement, image quality, secure data storage and integration with passenger alarms.

The RSSB Key Train Requirements (KTR) also emphasise the importance of internal CCTV as an element of passenger security, including good coverage, reliable performance and proper maintenance over the life of the train. The KTR document assists rolling stock procurers, specifiers, manufacturers, and system suppliers to compile procurement specifications for new and refurbished trains.

Swift access to CCTV images is critical for police investigations, which is why we recently announced nearly £17 million of funding for a project to connect railway station CCTV directly to BTP, providing investigators with the images they need to identify suspects and bring them to justice.