South Eastern Railway and British Transport Police have stepped up visible patrols and measures to protect the public at Lewisham station, as improved monitoring helps teams identify and respond to safety incidents more effectively.
On Friday 6 November, teams from both organisations were at Lewisham to provide a visible presence, patrol the railway and talk directly to passengers about safety and security. A drone was also deployed to help teams monitor the railway and provide an additional view of the surrounding area.
The Day of Action builds on wider work by South Eastern Railway and British Transport Police to tackle trespass and railway crime. This includes the Crime with Consequences campaign and closer joint working between the two organisations.
Technology is also playing a growing role, with CCTV cameras being rolled out at Lewisham, and line-of-sight and new beyond-visual-line-of-sight drones used across the network to help identify offenders and reduce disruption to passengers.
Scott Brightwell, Safety, Planning and Performance Director at South Eastern Railway, said:
“We’re continually looking at how we can make journeys safer and more reliable for our passengers, particularly at busy stations like Lewisham.
“Working closely with British Transport Police and Samaritans is an important part of that. Better monitoring, visible patrols and technology help us identify when support is needed and respond quickly, helping passengers travel safely and with confidence.”
BTP Inspector Carolyne Butte said:
"Keeping passengers and railway staff safe is our top priority, and days like this provide a valuable opportunity for us to come together with partners and learn about the issues that matter most to rail passengers and staff.
“Through high visibility and plain-clothes patrols, targeted operations, innovative technology like our ‘Drone in a Box’ and more, we’re committed to deterring criminality, arresting offenders and helping ensure everyone can travel on the railway with confidence.”
South Eastern Railway also works with partners, including the Samaritans through its dedicated safeguarding team. More than 1,800 colleagues have received training through work with Samaritans and the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Network, helping frontline staff identify and support vulnerable people.
