In 2007-08 the number of violent crimes reported on Britain’s rail network stood at 11,250*. The number of passenger journeys stood at 2.2 billion.

The problem

The rail system is a low crime environment but the network is not immune to general crime trends including the current increase in young people carrying knives.

What we are doing to tackle it

BTP launched Operation Shield in February 2006. Using hand-held metal detectors and portable walkthrough detection arches, BTP officers seek to deter and detect knife carrying on the rail network in London. Following this successful pilot, it was rolled out across the country, deployed at robbery and violence hot spots. 

By July 2006, Operation Shield, which complemented the Home Office knife amnesty, was in use across the country in every BTP Area. Dozens of operations have since been carried out to deter and detect those carrying weapons.

From February 2006 to December 2007:

• 342 weapons have been recovered
• 329 arrests have been made including 159 related to the possession of offensive weapons
• 81,000 people have been scanned through the arches and almost 9,000 stopped and searched

This is a graphic illustration of the issue. Any one of these recovered weapons – and they include knives, machetes, CS sprays, knuckledusters, martial arts weapons, bats, sharpened screwdrivers and firearms – could have caused serious injury or worse.

Where possible, Operation Shield and other operations are intelligence-led. Shield operations are carried out at stations as a deterrent and to reassure passengers and staff that police are taking positive action for their protection.

*This includes all crimes of violence, robberies and sexual offences against men and women.