CRIME has plummeted on the region’s railways, but police have vowed to not be complacent in cracking down on offenders targeting passengers on trains.

Figures released by British Transport Police (BTP) show in York the number of offences committed on trains fell from 436 in 2008/09 to 369 in 2009/10 – a reduction of 15.4 per cent.

It is the sixth year running that crime has been reduced on railways in the area, and BTP says in a bid to cut it even further more police will be put on patrol.

Nicki Watson, BTP superintendent for the north-east, said: “Being safe and feeling safe are equally important – which is why we are focusing our efforts on putting more police out on patrol on the rail network in the evenings and at night.”

In the north-eastern policing area of BTP, which covers the railway network from the East Midlands through to the Scottish Borders and includes York, the annual figures showed a 12 per cent reduction in crime.

Over the past three years, violent crime has fallen more than nine per cent and robberies are down by 18 per cent. The theft of railway property, which includes signalling cable, has reduced by nearly a quarter.

Supt Watson said: “These figures are great news for passengers and rail staff who work and travel in the north-east.

“However, it’s important for us to listen to people’s concerns and be responsive to them, and we know that people are more concerned about travelling at night.”

She said reports showed that problems classed as “low-level crime”, such as antisocial behaviour, still remain a worry for passengers, especially between 8pm and 2am.

“Research shows that young men aged 26 and under are most concerned, which is understandable as they are the most likely to be victims of assault,” she said.

“We need to be out there protecting them and reassuring all passengers that the railways really are a very safe environment. “By putting more police on patrol in the evenings, we are aiming to address some of those anxieties and boost passenger confidence.”