Met and TfL strengthen partnership to keep London’s roads and transport network safe

The Metropolitan Police Service is strengthening its partnership with Transport for London (TfL) to better serve local communities using our capital’s transport network.

The partnership between the Met and TfL has been in place for more than 20 years and continues to deliver benefits for London’s roads and transport networks. Strong partnership working and additional funding from TfL has enhanced policing on roads and transport networks - keeping Londoners safe and secure when travelling by public transport, motor vehicle, walking or cycling in the capital.

The Met - through its New Met for London Plan - is committed to creating larger, more flexible neighbourhood policing teams that can respond quickly and effectively to local needs. This approach will help to make sure that police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) are deployed where they are needed most, increasing visibility and improving trust within the communities they serve.

The changes will place more officers into local neighbourhood teams, improving community policing across London and fulfilling the promises of the New Met for London Plan. Expanding the remit of local teams will enable us to police the transport network with a greater community focus, ensuring the transport network remains a low crime environment that feels safe and secure for customers and staff. This means replacing some of the current dedicated transport officers on the bus and road network, but dedicated teams will remain policing the road network.

These changes reflect the priorities of Londoners, who have clearly stated a desire for increased police visibility in their communities. With funding from TfL, the new approach will see the Met continue to provide additional policing for London’s road and bus network, including an enhanced focus on addressing key shared priorities - such as violence against women and girls on the bus network and in taxi and private hire vehicles, hate crime, safeguarding young people travelling by bus, reducing road danger, and improving bus and road reliability.

Commander Charmain Brenyah of the Metropolitan Police said:

“For more than 20 years we have worked closely with TfL to keep our transport network safe, and this new model will ensure that we build on that success whilst delivering on the wider commitments we have made to our communities.

“These changes will increase the visibility of police officers in our neighbourhoods and focus our resources on the issues that matter most to Londoners like tackling violence against women and girls and continuing to drive down violent crime in the capital.”

Siwan Hayward, Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement at TfL, said:

“The Met has set out its vision for policing in London through strong neighbourhood policing teams which changes the way they will police London's roads and transport networks. We have been working closely with the MPS, and will provide funding to them, to ensure that there is additional policing effort for the transport network, keeping our customers, staff and road users safe and secure.

“Through our strong partnership working with the MPS and our continued investment, there will be additional policing focus on tackling hate crime and violence against women and girls on the bus network and in taxi and private hire vehicles, safeguarding young people as they travel on the bus network, tackling violence and aggression against transport workers, reducing road danger and improving bus and road reliability.”

The Met and TfL will continue to make these important changes to improve the experience of using London’s roads and transport network for everyone. Further changes include increased police presence at key bus stations during term-time to protect commuters and children and a focus on enforcing criminal, dangerous and reckless road user behaviour, - including offences such as speeding, drink/drunk driving and using a mobile phone while driving - to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the capital’s roads.

The Met and TfL are committed to working more closely together to improve safety and reduce crime in London. The changes are a key part of the Met’s commitment to more effectively allocate resources while addressing financial challenges.