Transport Minister commends invaluable work to tackle knife crime on railways

Transport Minister Andrew Jones praised the exceptional ongoing work of the British Transport Police (BTP) to tackle knife crime on Britain’s railways, after patrols with the force in Stratford yesterday (28 March 2019).

Meeting with officers including BTP Assistant Chief Constable Robin Smith, the minister saw first-hand the tactics and work taking place aimed at stopping people carrying knives onto trains, as part of specialist Operation Engulf - which started last year – focused on keeping the railways safe.

This was followed by a demonstration of the methods being used by BTP to deter knife carrying, including the use of knife arches, metal detectors, and plain-clothed officers throughout stations.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said:

For millions of people up and down the country using a train is a daily necessity, and it is absolutely vital that they know they can travel safely without the senseless threat of knife crime.

It is fantastic to see first-hand how the invaluable work of British Transport Police officers is cracking down on this issue, ensuring passengers can have total confidence in a safe and secure journey.

Through schemes such as Operation Engulf, the BTP are working to pre-empt offences before they take place by stepping up patrols in areas where crime is likely to occur.

Tactics employed at stations including Stratford have been hugely successful in helping to keep knives off our rail network. Due to measures such as enhanced officer deployments, the station has seen 33 arrests for weapon offences and 322 stop searches carried out since the specialist operation began last year.

Assistant Chief Constable Robin Smith said:

Millions of people use the railways every day and our officers are on hand 24/7 to help keep them safe.

Over the last year we have increased our targeted, intelligence-led operations against knife crime. These patrols, which often involve knife arches, metal detectors, plain clothed and uniformed officers, have been paramount in taking knives off our rail network.

Around half of all knife crime we record is as a result of weapons our officers have seized and importantly, these successful operations also act as a deterrent to those intent on carrying weapons, and help us to keep passengers and staff safe.