Bobbies to police Tube

Community policing by putting bobbies back on the beat at their local train stations was introduced on London Underground today in an attempt to cut soaring crime rates.

The officers are being ordered to bring a "highly visible" presence back on trains and must get to know and chat with local commuters.

It comes as up to 100 new British Transport Police (BTP) officers - a 20 per cent increase - today go out on patrol to help combat a 27 per cent rise in crime across the network used by more than three million passengers a day.

The change of policy will be known as Priority Policing. The BTP Tube force will be divided into 44 station groups - a team of between two and six officers will patrol the trains, track and stations, three or four to each section, in their particular area.

Each officer, who will be expected to stay with the group for two years, is being told to be "approachable" and establish a relationship with residents and shopkeepers near stations as well as with LU staff.

Violent crime increased by a third last year on LU compared with the previous 12 months, while pickpocketing and theft was up by 50 per cent and public disorder offences, including drunkenness, were up by 71 per cent.

The new officers are being funded through the Mayor's authority, Transport for London, at a cost of £5.4 million a year. Mr Livingstone said today: "It is vital we feel safe travelling on the Tube."