Stay safe and crime free is the message being put out by British Transport Police Officers and GNER managers

York-based train operator GNER has invested £1.7 million jointly with Railtrack to improve security at stations and station car parks and is beginning to see the benefit in reduced crime figures.

Station car parks along the London-Scotland East Coast main line have been equipped with security fencing, brighter lighting, car park exit barriers, closed circuit television monitoring and recording systems.

At York station car crime has been cut from 58 reported crimes in 1999 to fewer than 20 this year.

Car crime in station car parks at all GNER sites was cut from 538 reported crimes in 1999 to 336 last year. Fewer than 100 incidents had been reported in the first four months of this year.

York is one of 11 GNER station car parks which have attained Secure Car Park status under the Government's secure stations crime reduction scheme.

"The steps that have been taken to improve security in station car parks are paying off, but we also need the public's help to make their vehicles and contents less attractive to criminals," said PC Fred Tomlinson, British Transport Police crime reduction officer.

"Valuables, mobile phones and lap top computers should be stored out of sight and cars should be locked securely with windows and sunroof closed."

GNER spokesman Alan Hyde said: "We have invested heavily at York and elsewhere to keep customers and their vehicles safe. It is part of our total commitment to passengers, from the moment they book their tickets, through their arrival at the station, their journey and their arrival at their destination."

Updated: 11:14 Thursday, May 24, 2001