Wrexham,Llandudno,Rhyl - North Wales railway stations hit with 700 crimes in just over four years

In 2015 Rhyl railway station became known as one of the most violent railway stations in Britain for its size

• 29 MAY 2016
• BY STEVE BAGNALL

Transport police say crime is falling after incidents of vandalism, violence, theft and rocks out on tracks

Criminals committed more than 700 crimes at railway stations in North Wales - including sex crimes - over a four-year period, new figures reveal.

According to British Transport Police (BTP) other offences include fraud, theft of cables, stealing from passengers, vandalism, missiles thrown at trains, rocks put on the tracks and serious public order offences.

Data released to the Daily Post under the Freedom of Information Act from the beginning of 2012 to today, show some of the stations with the highest number of recorded crimes were Wrexham General Station - 58, Llandundo Junction - 54, Flint - 44 and Prestatyn 44.

However, BTP chiefs insist crime is falling at stations in Wales - including North Wales - and say they are cracking down on any trouble.

In 2015 Rhyl became known as one of the most violent railway stations in Britain for its size.

Read: Rhyl station is one of the most violent in Britain

Back in 2012 BTP recorded 167 crimes across North Wales, they spiked in 2013 with 193 before falling down in 2014 to 138 and then in 2015 up again to 156.

So far in 2016, there have been 52 crimes recorded.

In January more than 50 people a year on average were being arrested on North Wales railways for crimes as transport officers look to catch the culprits.

During December 2015, BTP launched an investigation after a rail passenger ‘threatened to break a train guard’s neck’ when asked for a ticket.

Read: Investigation launched after rail passenger 'threatens to break train guard's neck' when asked for a ticket

Then in February this year another inquiry was started after an alleged racial assault at Flint Station, two men came forward after an appeal to volunteer their details to the transport police.

Dai Davies, BTP’s sector inspector for North Wales, said overall, crime on Wales’s railways has fallen for the 11th year running and there was therefore no need for passengers to be alarmed.

He said: “These figures show that, on average, there is just one crime recorded every two days across the whole of the North Wales rail network.

“It is clear, therefore, that trains and stations throughout the area remain a low crime environment, despite increasing passenger numbers and major infrastructure projects.

“We now put more officers on late evening and night trains to reassure passengers and deter problematic behaviour, while working with our partners to fully utilise the CCTV rich environment available to us."

see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-railway-stations-hit-11388248