New police team starts work at Clapham Junction
11:24am Wednesday 14th May 2008
British Transport Police has launched a new police team at Clapham Junction train station.
The neighbourhood policing team, made of a police sergeant and eight PCs, was set up in an attempt to cut crime and reassure rail passengers travelling through south-west London.
The officers will be dedicated to patrolling South West Trains services and the 22 stations on the loop line from Clapham Junction to Kingston and to Staines.
BTP Chief Inspector Jim Little said: "Officers will be working closely with South West trains staff to tackle fare evasion and staff assaults and we will be actively encouraging passengers to approach officers and raise any concerns they have about safety or criminality on the railway.
"The team will regularly engage in crime reduction surgeries and will be conducting operations targeting knife crime and drug carrying."
He said the team had already netted their first arrest after a youth in gang colours tried to flee from a police officer at Clapham Junction station. The youth was arrested for carrying a pointed blade, after he was found in possession of a six-inch long kitchen knife, and for assaulting a police officer.
The team will be based at platform nine at Clapham Junction station.
The stations covered by the team include Clapham Junction, Wimbledon, Richmond, Staines, Twickenham, Earlsfield, Mortlake, Norbiton, Putney, Strawberry Hill, Wandsworth Town, Kingston, Feltham, Hampton Wick, Raynes Park, New Malden, Teddington, St Margarets, North Sheen, Barnes, Whitton and Ashford.