It has been revealed that since TfL refurbished Shadwell station on the Docklands Light Railway crime has fallen sharply. Since the refurbishment was completed in May there has been just one crime at the station but in May and June 2007 this was up at six. The figures have been hailed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson as a success story in the fight against crime.
Mr Johnson said: “'It is the right of every Londoner to feel safe when they travel around their city, and I am determined to make the transport system as safe as possible in order to achieve this. Shadwell station is a great example of quite literally giving criminals nowhere to hide - where before it was difficult to see people lingering in corners or behind the huge pillars that were there, now it's a wonderful open space that the community can use with confidence.'
A recent independent survey also said that 75% of respondents now felt safer to use the station since the refit than before. The refurbishment saw the dark and dingy entrance hall transformed into a bright open space.
Robert Niven, Head of Development and Planning for the DLR, said: “'We are delighted by the results at Shadwell station, particularly among local residents who say the refurbishment has made a real difference. The DLR has always been an extremely safe way of getting around London, but our programme of improvements are clearly making it even safer.”
Source: Transport for London