NSW: Scully says rail report shows govt on right track

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NSW: Scully says rail report shows govt on right track

SYDNEY, Feb 12 AAP - A report into NSW rail safety showed the state government wason the right track investing in guards and security cameras, NSW Transport Minister CarlScully said today.

The NSW Auditor-General's report into CityRail passenger safety found the number ofserious or violent crimes on trains fell by 43 per cent over the past five years, butrose by 28 per cent on platforms.

But it also showed a fall in serious and violent crimes on trains and platforms sincethe introduction of security guards and 5,700 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

"It substantially confirms that the investment was warranted in transit officers, inour cameras systems and our Chubb security guards," Mr Scully told reporters.

"Pleasingly, there has been a noticeable reduction in the last 12 months (in crimeson stations), I believe directly attributable to the CCTV systems in place."

But Mr Scully said he questioned a table showing reports of all types of crime on trains- including stealing as well as more serious and violent crimes - almost doubled between1997/98 and 2001/02 to 866 incidents.

"I believe we've done as much as we can comprehensively, of any rail network probablyin the world," he said.

"Certainly, any rail network in Australia does not have any of these comparable securitysystems."

AAP jph/nf/gl/de

KEYWORD: RAIL SCULLY