TfL begins CCTV bus shelter trial and enforcement officer night patrols across the network, to improve safety and provide reassurance to people travelling at all times

Transport for London (TfL) is working with the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met) to develop and trial the use of CCTV cameras at bus shelters in London. This is to explore the benefits for preventing and detecting crime and anti-social behaviour and investigating incidents, improving customer confidence to travel on the bus network. The safety of TfL’s customers and staff is its top priority, and TfL Transport Support and Enforcement (TSE) officers have also begun night patrols across the network to provide support to operational customer-facing colleagues, challenge workplace violence and provide a highly visible reassuring presence to staff and customers using the transport network at night.  

TfL is committed to ensuring customers feel safe and are safe across every transport mode and installed Met CCTV at the Peckham Library bus shelter earlier this week. TfL is initially installing Met CCTV at four further bus shelter locations over the coming weeks (Finsbury Park, Turnpike Lane, Gants Hill and Stratford City), aiming to extend the trial to 20 shelters later this year. The cameras will be available for Met teams, including the jointly funded TfL/Met Roads and Transport Policing Command, to view live and will retain recordings for 31 days to support police investigations and crime prevention. In addition to assessing the effectiveness of CCTV for crime prevention and investigation, TfL will gather feedback from customers and stakeholders throughout the trial to assess the feeling of safety and security for customers using the TfL bus network. Tackling violence against women and girls remains a key priority for TfL and the police, and TfL is committed to making its network a safe space for everyone. 

TfL provides funding for more than 2000 police and community support officers dedicated to the transport network. TfL also has more than 500 enforcement staff who are deployed across the capital to keep customers and colleagues safe and to keep London moving.  The deployment of enforcement officers during the night is part of TfL's wider efforts to make the network feel even more secure. The initial team of 15 new night enforcement officers expands a team of enforcement officers working to ensure all taxi and private hire drivers, vehicles and operators are fully licensed and safe to operate on the network.  

The officers are trained and equipped to deal with these issues and prioritise engagement and education over enforcement. However, the officers are also highly trained in conflict management and to intervene physically when needed, using their powers to remove passengers, deny service or to prevent further harm and injury.  

In the first four weeks of deployment, the TSE officers have removed 47 passengers who were refusing to comply with the rules and regulations of the network and were obstructive or threatened TfL staff. They have dealt with another 132 customers for byelaw breaches who were reported for prosecution and denied 82 customers access to the network because of their behaviour. Officers engaged with 424 customers who accepted advice and guidance and adapted their behaviour to be able to continue their journeys. The officers also play a key safeguarding role to ensure the safety of vulnerable people and have provided safeguarding assistance to 41 passengers.  

This has included an incident where officers provided reassurance and help to a man to who was found distressed while travelling at night and reported feeling suicidal. Officers also stepped in to challenge a man who was harassing a female passenger and making her feel uncomfortable. The new team also provided assistance to a man who fell down the escalators at a Tube station and ensured that he received medical attention for his injuries. 

All TfL officers are required to wear body worn video (BWV) and Personal Protective Vests. Last month, TfL made BWV part of its essential kit for all frontline customer facing staff. Research shows that the risk of assaults on colleagues can almost halve when wearing a BWV camera. If an incident is captured on BWV the footage can also provide vital evidence to the police, resulting in better outcomes when offenders go to court. The major rollout of BWV plays a crucial role in TfL's commitment to the safety and protection of its customers and colleagues.  

Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “We want everyone to feel safe and be safe when travelling around London at all times, and it is the Mayor’s top priority to ensure the transport network is a safe and low-crime environment. That’s why we’re really pleased TfL’s enforcement officers have begun patrolling the network at night. These specially trained officers will not only provide reassurance to those travelling at night, they will help to tackle anti-social behaviour, work-related violence and aggression and support TfL frontline staff.  

“These patrols will help to ensure the network is secure and welcoming round the clock, supporting the Mayor’s aim to continue building a safer London for everyone.” 

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, said: “The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority and we want to ensure that every mode on our network is a beacon of safety for everyone. CCTV plays a crucial role in both crime prevention and investigation. This camera trial with the Met will inform our plans for the best ways to improve the safety and security of our customers, staff and infrastructure.  We have also already seen incredible results from our new night enforcement officers over the last month who play an important role supporting our frontline colleagues in busy locations and safeguarding role to our most vulnerable customers, and we are pleased to be able to offer this support through the night.  

“We'd like to thank the Met for their work in designing this camera for bus shelters, which will play a vital role in tackling crime, including tackling sexual offences and violence against women and girls. We are committed to keeping customers and staff safe and will continue to work closely with the police to ensure that our transport network remains a welcoming environment to work and travel.”   

London TravelWatch CEO, Michael Roberts, said: “For many people travelling around London personal security is a real concern, with our research showing that women, Disabled people, people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community are amongst those particularly impacted. TfL’s CCTV bus shelter trial is therefore a welcome announcement and supports our recommendation to improve CCTV across the network. We hope this will improve both real and perceived safety for everyone travelling and we look forward to hearing what passengers think about it.” 

The risk of experiencing crime on TfL networks remains low but TfL encourages anyone who witnesses a crime on the transport network to report it, so they can take action against offenders and put measures in place to prevent this happening again. Customers can report incidents on the bus network at met.police.uk or, for all other TfL services, text British Transport Police on 61016 or via the free BTP Railway Guardian app. Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers, and should always call 999 in an emergency.