4/14/2014

Huddersfield criminologist studies crime on London Underground

New study of rail crime by Huddersfield expert

Huddersfield criminologist Dr Andrew Newton, studying Tube crimes

A Huddersfield expert is helping to cut crime - on the London Underground.
University of Huddersfield criminologist Andrew Newton will now appear before a House of Commons select committee to describe his findings.
Dr Newton is also forming links with overseas experts so that their research can make public transport systems around the world safer places to travel.
By analysing crime patterns on the London Underground, which carries more than one billion passengers a year, Dr Newton is able to draw conclusions about the environment of stations and how they can help or hinder crime, such as pickpocketing. There are also important lessons to be learned about the policing of the Tube system and the areas that surround stations.
Key findings include the fact that below ground offences are concentrated at particular stations, with the risk being highest during morning and late afternoon peak travel periods, when there is also a greater risk of theft above ground in the nearby environs of the stations.
“The findings suggest that offenders who operate below ground may also operate above ground on major transit systems,” said Dr Newton. “This has clear policy implications for policing these settings and highlights the importance of joint operations and information-sharing between transit agencies and local police forces.
“By its nature you don’t know when and where you are pickpocketed. You get on at the start of the journey and you might change to a different line. It might not be until the end of the journey that you realise you have been a victim.”
Dr Newton has worked with Transport for London in developing and adapting research methodologies that have helped to identify the locations on the network where there is the greatest likelihood of crime.

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