Lack of ticket barriers blamed for leap in train crime

VIOLENT crime on the rail network has soared by 75 per cent over the past five years, with experts claiming a lack of ticket barriers at stations is contributing u to lawlessness on trains.

Last year there were more than 10,000 assaults reported to British Transport Police (BTP), one for every mile of railway across the UK.

Serious assaults, in which victims were injured, have increased by almost 30 per cent since 2012-13, peaking at 2,400 last year.

But assaults without injury – which include in incidents such as pushing, grabbing and even spitting – have rocketed by 95 per cent over the same period, with more than 6,700 offences reported over the previous 12 months.

Senior BTP officers claim the rises s stem from more passengers travelling, better detection rates and victims being n more willing to report incidents.

But experts also believe the lack of ticket checks and barriers at stations allows in criminals, who are more likely to become involved in violent disputes.