Will we get more rowdy drunks on the London Underground?

Late licensing hours worry British Transport Police

Well it looks like our earlier questions about bringing back London Underground platform pubs will be falling on deaf ears, as the latest news is that British Transport Police are very much against the extension of Britain's licensing hours which will happen in November.

The BBC report: "Violent crime on the UK's rail network rose by nearly 12% last year, much of it fuelled by alcohol, police say.

"There were 9,748 cases of violent crime on the UK's railways in the year to March - up from 8,727 - while violence rose 14% on the London Underground.

The figure prompted British Transport Police's chief constable Ian Johnston to voice "serious concerns" about the extension of pub licensing hours."

The BBC's report concludes with: "The Rail Maritime and Transport union renewed its call for the return of guards to all trains and for more uniformed staff on stations.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "It is deeply disturbing that violence on the railways is still on the increase.

"We need adequate staff on every station all the time they are open and a guard on every train, including on the Tube."

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, August 24, 2005 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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