TfL trialling bus shelter CCTV
TfL is trialling CCTV cameras at bus shelters across London.
Launched on White Ribbon Day (25 November 2024), it is part of TfL’s efforts to stand against violence against women and girls.
The 12-month trial is designed to improve passenger safety, especially for women and girls, and ensure they can travel with confidence 24 hours a day. Tackling violence against women and girls remains a key priority for TfL and the police, and this trial is a step towards delivering the Mayor’s commitment to increase CCTV in bus shelters.
The technology was tested at five bus shelters in March, and now a further 15 bus shelter locations have been fitted with CCTV across Brent, Croydon, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Westminster. These locations were selected to provide good coverage across London and to understand the effectiveness of CCTV in different areas. This includes busy locations with high footfall, quieter locations with less frequent bus services, higher crime areas, or locations where women and girls have reported feeling more unsafe.
The cameras will be available to the Met to help prevent and investigate crime and to improve incident response with live access. Footage, which only the Met will have access to, will be retained for 31 days to support police investigations. TfL will also gather feedback from customers and stakeholders throughout the trial to assess the feeling of safety and security for customers using the bus network.
TfL has been a longstanding supporter of White Ribbon Day, a global movement to end male violence against women and girls. This White Ribbon Day, TfL has partnered with Tottenham Hotspur F.C, Fulham F.C and Crystal Palace F.C to raise awareness of this important topic and to make it clear that gender-based violence and harassment is not tolerated.
“Increased CCTV will help to ensure the network is secure and welcoming round the clock” – Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance
Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe and be safe at all times when travelling around London and it is the Mayor’s top priority to ensure the transport network is a safe and low-crime environment. That’s why I welcome this trial of CCTV at bus shelters, which will improve safety for women and girls and ensure they can travel with confidence.
“Increased CCTV will help to ensure the network is secure and welcoming round the clock, supporting the Mayor’s aim to continue building a safer London for everyone.”
“This pilot will help protect women and girls, meaning they can enjoy safer spaces across the capital” – Met Commander, Ben Russell
Met Commander, Ben Russell, said: “The Met is determined to make London safer, working with our partners to ensure every woman and girl feels safe in the city they call home.
“This pilot will help protect women and girls, meaning they can enjoy safer spaces across the capital. It also aims to help us bring more dangerous predators to justice, with CCTV being used as a key tool as part of our investigations.”
“London TravelWatch research tells us that many people can feel unsafe when waiting for buses, particularly women and girls” – Michael Roberts, CEO of London TravelWatch
Michael Roberts, CEO of London TravelWatch, said: “London TravelWatch research tells us that many people can feel unsafe when waiting for buses, particularly women and girls. This important and valuable trial will not only help detect crime, but will also ensure that women and girls can feel safer and more confident when travelling by bus.
“We look forward to seeing the results of this pilot and for further initiatives to improve safety on London transport.”