The re-opened office at Lancaster train station means a boost for passenger and staff safety, as a police presence returns.
As chair of the cross-party group of MPs for the West Coast Mainline, policing has been high up my agenda – calling for the station to be re-opened, bringing in the British Transport Police into Westminster and challenging cuts under the British Transport Police Authority.
It was great to meet with Jamie, Tom and Jeff to talk about the priorities at the station, including tackling violence against women and girls, mental health, alcohol-related offences and hooliganism.
British Transport Police have secured the first ground-breaking conviction under new Section 4B sex-based harassment powers introduced this April, which can see two years’ imprisonment for causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress to a person because of their sex, or presumed sex. In the first three months of this law being brought in, BTP made 26 arrests on their network – all men.
It’s great to hear just how passionate the team is about the opportunities which the re-opened police station at Lancaster will have, especially in tackling county lines and modern-day slavery networks, and getting faster responses in our area.
This marks a great step forwards in keeping our station safe, and I’d like to thank the officers, staff at Lancaster station, and the RMT for pushing against cuts to policing on the rail network.
If you’re on the platforms this morning and see the team, say hello!