How do I get TfL to work with BTP to sort out fare evasion and crime at my local tube station?

[pethadine82]

I am writing this post out of desperation, in my local area I have seen youths travel in, barge past the gateline (both entry and exit) and ply their "trade"
The word has now got about and there are more undesirables being attracted to the area. Its only a matter of time before someone gets killed.

How do I get TfL to work with BTP or even the met to have a 1 stop shop so that fare evasion and other crime (drugs) is tackled together?
This is in Zone 5.
This would be a win win, TfL will be able to prosecute and get some money back, and it will hopefully reduce crime in the area (unfortunately it will be highly likely to be moved to another area.)

 

[rebmcr]

I note only that a general election is planned this year.

 

[SynthD]

Your Assembly member or MP may help, but I think you will need to do better than “it’s only a matter of time”, because there’s not much of link from fare dodging to murder.

 

[lookapigeon]

61016 but via email, allowing you to explain further?

https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/campaigns/How-to-use-our-text-number/

 

[Joe Paxton]

Your Assembly member or MP may help [...]

London Assembly members are detailed here:
www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/london-assembly-members

Try your local member first. After that you could approach a Londonwide member, perhaps someone who's on an appropriate committee, i.e. Police & Crime or Transport (looks like Caroline Pidgeon is the only one of the eleven Londonwide members who are on both those committees).

 

[pethadine82]

Thank you all so much, that has been very helpful
In regards to SynthD's post, these youths do not care about values, they push the gates open with such impunity. They come to deal their drugs, they probably have a concealed weapon. That's the point I'm making. How many more people are going to be killed before something gets done. I'm trying to do the best I can for my community, which is why I reached out on this group.

 

[Kite159]

Your Assembly member or MP may help, but I think you will need to do better than “it’s only a matter of time”, because there’s not much of link from fare dodging to murder.

Until a "have a go hero" tries to stop one of the youths and ends up getting knifed?

 

[jon81uk]

Thank you all so much, that has been very helpful
In regards to SynthD's post, these youths do not care about values, they push the gates open with such impunity. They come to deal their drugs, they probably have a concealed weapon. That's the point I'm making. How many more people are going to be killed before something gets done. I'm trying to do the best I can for my community, which is why I reached out on this group.

Which is it, only a matter of time until someone gets killed, or more people are going to be killed before something is done?

If you are trying to get the police and politicans to act I would be wary of hyperbole and stick to facts. You can state that it makes you feel unsafe, but stating "how many more people are going to be killed before something gets done" infers you have seen someone get killed at the station when your earlier statement indicated the opposite. Calm requests and reports are better than exaggeration.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

My Zone 3 area is the same. Has gone right down hill in the past few years. Lots of bumping at the ticket gate too.

 

[thomalex]

I feel there needs to be a campaign around this issue to raise awareness it is being taken seriously rather than the radio silence on the issue currently. I see a lot of posters, no doubt at great expense saying 'Think Underground' while I'm on the tube but not anything about paying your fare, bumping isn't tolerated etc. Combine a visible campaign with some heavies being sent around to different stations at various times and I would have thought this would result in a reduction of this happening.

 

[JJmoogle]

TfL and BTP are probably doing absolutely nothing because they don't have the funding to commit to resources to stop people doing petty crime at the moment.
Like you suggest if they prosecute they'll get money back but I suspect it'd cost them more and the people will be pennyless.

I'm not trying to downplay the issue like, I've not seen the tube this mad ever, but I can't see it improving until their budgets do, aye write to your MP's and councillers though.

 

[jon0844]

It doesn't help that BTP is stretched and while they will care about things like county lines, local police are usually better equipped to deal - and when it comes to stations, local police may be less keen to get involved as that's seen as down to BTP.

Forces do work together but it's likely a slow process and more for specific, well planned, operations. Different police station locations, different places to take prisoners and likely a lot more paperwork.

All you can do is keep on complaining, and get other people in the community to do so too. Sadly the fare evasion bit won't be a high priority, even if a lack of proper enforcement is emboldening people and, thanks to social media, encouraging others. I'd say this is behind the increase in brazen shoplifting, and it seems now that pick pocketing and dipping is on the up too.

Criminals need to have some fear of being caught.