Stab menace on trains as crimes triple in three years

KNIFE crime on the rail network has more than tripled in the past three years, horrific figures show.

British Transport Police recorded 1,059 offences involving a knife or bladed article in 2018, a shocking rise on 338 in 2015. There were 417 in 2016 and 632 in 2017.

The number of people caught by transport police in possession of knives and other offensive weapons increased more than five times from 24 in 2015 to 136 in 2018. That compared with 57 recorded instances in 2016 and 52 in 2017.

A range of offences involving a knife were recorded including violence against the person, sexual offences, criminal damage, robbery, theft and drug crime.

Violence against the person involving a knife – which included crimes such as murder, attempted murder, GBH and possession of a bladed weapon – increase.

In 2018 there were 695 instances of violence against the person only, compared with 180 in 2015, 277 in 2016 and 402 in 2017.

Within this there were increases in attempted murder, GBH with intent, ABH, threats to kill and common assault.

Threats with a knife soared from only three in 2015 to 12 in 2016, 31 in 2017 and 40 in 2018. Detective Chief also showed

astark Superintendent Paul Furnell insisted the chances of being a victim of crime on the rail network were still “rare”, with 19 crimes recorded for every million passenger journeys in the year to March 2018.

Mr Furnell said: “Tackling any rise in crime and removing weapons from the rail network remains our top priority and nationwide officers have been working tirelessly in the battle against knife crime.

“In response to a national rise in violence and knife crime, officers have conducted a number of intelligence-led operations.

“These operations involve plainclothed and uniformed officers and have been highly successful in knives being seized and surrendered.

“Of course, passengers and rail staff are the eyes and ears of the rail network and we would encourage anyone who has any concerns to report matters to us by sending us a text on 61016.”