More South West Trains stations awarded top safety status

• 24 stations get British Transport Police and Department for Transport certification
• 92% of South West Trains passengers use stations with Secure Station status
• 94 stations on network now have special security badge for reducing crime

South West Trains has been awarded top safety status at a further 24 stations across its rail network.
It means that 94 South West Trains locations now have special Secure Station status for steps that have been taken to enhance passenger and staff safety.
Some 92% of South West Trains passengers now travel through stations that have met the strict security criteria set down by the Department for Transport and British Transport Police.

The Secure Stations scheme reassures passengers and staff that consistent efforts are being made to deter crime and anti-social behaviour.
The newly accredited South West Trains stations are: Ash Vale, Camberley, Chertsey, Christchurch, Claygate, Earley, Gillingham (Dorset), Hampton, Hampton Wick, Hersham, Hook, Liphook, London Road Guildford, Martins Heron, Motspur Park, New Milton, Oxshott, Queenstown Road Battersea, Shepperton, Sunbury, Sunningdale, Swanwick, Thames Ditton and Virginia Water. The certification is valid for two years and is renewable.

Each station was audited by British Transport Police inspectors. Among the measures that earned the safer station badge were:

• discouraging criminal behaviour through improved use of CCTV, emergency help points, good fencing and strategic use of lighting
• crime prevention initiatives and training for staff, as well as providing an efficient response to incidents
• passengers feeling secure while using the station
• a continuous downward trend in recorded crime

Stuart Giddings, Head of Security and Crime Prevention for South West Trains, said: “This is excellent news and shows that by focusing on station design, management and training, we can make a real difference to levels of safety for our passengers and our staff.

“Although levels of crime on the railway are actually very low, we are continually looking at ways to make our stations and trains safer. These awards also help reduce the fear of crime, and we will continue to work towards achieving Secure Station status at more of our stations.”

Over the course of its franchise, South West Trains is investing £50m in a network-wide station upgrade programme, including improved and safer station facilities.