Transport for LondonExtra safety boost for the Overground
The new Travel Safe Officers will, in time, have the power to issue penalty notices for graffiti, criminal damage or littering, and be able to take names and addresses of people behaving unacceptably on the network and
pass them on to the police.
For an initial 12-month trial period, the team will boost the number of staff in uniforms patrolling London Overground.
They will work closely with the British Transport Police's (BTP's) Neighbourhood Policing Teams, who already work on the Overground, and provide an extra deterrent to bad behaviour and help tackle the fear of crime.
Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's adviser on transport, said: 'Londoners using the Overground services will not be able to miss the new trial team who will provide an extra set of eyes and ears on the network.'
Ian Brown, managing director of London Rail, said: 'The trial of Travel Safe Officers will add to the existing BTP officers on our network.
'They will also add to the improvements already made to lighting and security at stations.
'The new trains, which have clear sightlines right through the carriage, and onboard CCTV monitored by the driver will also increase the feeling of safety.
'Further upgrades will see Help points and cameras at all stations by 2011.'
