Opera is new weapon in fight against crime

Classical music is helping to reduce crime on one of the worst parts of the London Underground.

Mozart and Pavarotti broadcast through loudspeakers has resulted in a drastic reduction in anti-social behaviour by gangs of youths.

It is not that the music has a soothing effect - the gangs hate it and it has driven them away.

LU used the music at Elm Park station, on the eastern end of the District line, where gangs were hanging around and assaulting staff and passengers. A spokeswoman said: "The theory behind it is that the youths were unfamiliar with this type of music and didn't like it. They certainly didn't like Mozart or anything by Pavarotti. The gangs just disappeared."

The problem was so severe train drivers would refuse to stop. The use of classical music was part of a larger clampdown, Operation Cyprus, by LU and British Transport Police between Barking and Upminster. Latest figures for the six months to the end of last September show robbery was cut by 33 per cent, assaults by seven per cent, staff assaults by 25 per cent and vandalism of trains and stations by 37 per cent. The scheme may now be extended to a further 35 stations across the District, Metropolitan and East London lines, with the repertoire including Vivaldi, Handel, Rachmaninov and Mussorgsky.