Station scanners bid to tackle crime fear

Knife-carrying thugs who create fear on trains and at railway stations were today being tackled with airport-style metal detectors.

The portable devices were in use as part of Operation Shield at Pontypridd railway station - and are likely to be deployed at Cardiff Central in the near future.

Chief Inspector Paul Richards, of British Transport Police, said: 'The aim of the operation is to reverse the knife-carrying culture which has grown up among some groups of young people.

'Throughout the country, this operation has been welcomed by passengers, who view it as a positive step towards making the railways an even safer way to travel.'

People were being encouraged to walk through metal detection arches, with officers using hand-held wands to locate weapons on others who may be reluctant. No weapons were found when the operation was launched last night.

Passengers welcomed the move.

Samantha Roberts, 31, of Maesycoed, Pontypridd, a secretary at a Cardiff solicitors' practice, commutes to work daily from Pontypridd.

She said: 'It's a very good idea. I don't always feel safe, especially after 7pm when I'm coming up from Cardiff. Hopefully this will make me feel more confident.'

Dean Davies, 30, of Pontypridd, travels to a building site in City Road, Cardiff.

He said: 'Precautions like these are a great idea. Anything they can do to get knives off trains should be welcomed.'

Officers, both uniformed and undercover, will arrest anyone in possession of weapons.

Arriva Trains Wales' security manager, Gwilym Bowen, said: 'Fortunately crime of this nature is not commonplace on the rail network in Wales. This operation sends out a strong message that crime and anti-social behaviour, including carrying knives, will not be tolerated on our train services.'

The crackdown comes after an independent charity released figures showing robberies with knives had rocketed by 72 per cent in the last 12 months in Wales and England.

A five-week national knife amnesty, which ended in June, saw more than 90,000 weapons handed in.

Arriva wants to install three CCTV cameras and heavy-duty gates at Pontypridd station in a bid to bolster security.

The firm has lodged a planning application with Rhondda Cynon Taf council for the Grade II listed building. An Arriva spokeswoman said: 'The planning application for security enhancements to Pontypridd station is part of a programme to ensure that Arriva Trains Wales stations provide secure environments.'

South Wales Echo, 11 August 2006

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