Rail operator Northern is adding dozens of extra body-worn cameras for staff members working at Leeds station in a bid to deal with anti-social behaviour. More than 50 of the cameras will be in use both at the station and onboard trains travelling across the Yorkshire region.
The presence of body-worn cameras has already been shown in studies to substantially reduce crime and also provide protection for staff members who may have to deal with potentially threatening behaviour.
2017 saw Northern first introduce body-worn cameras in a collaborative trial involving British Transport Police and Cambridge University, and in 2021 saw the introduction of over 350 cameras for its staff members across its network.
Body-worn cameras do not record all the time but can capture high-quality footage or photographs of incidents which are useful as evidence for British Transport Police and for securing convictions in court.
Phil Jones, crime reduction manager at Northern, said:
“We have already improved CCTV at many of our stations, and on our trains, to enhance security. The use of body-worn cameras is the next step to tackle any potential anti-social or criminal behaviour.”
“Thankfully, the rail network is relatively crime-free, yet we are absolutely committed to making our trains and stations as safe as possible and the new cameras will help us achieve this.”
Northern has also committed to introducing over 600 CCTV cameras across its network in a bid to further enhance safety for passenger journeys and in tackling anti-social behaviour
