Crime committed on trains in Merton have more than doubled in the last year and the number of overall crime on public transport has increased by more than a third, new information shows.

A Freedom of Information request to British Transport Police has revealed 166 crimes were committed on National Rail trains in the borough in 2016, compared to 74 in 2015.

The total number of crimes committed on trams, tubes and trains in Merton in 2016 was 311, up from 195 the previous year.

Information on the number of crimes committed on London buses is not included.

The most common crime committed on public transport is theft from a person, of which 44 counts were recorded last year.

Common assault was the second most frequent crime. Police recorded 38 of these offences last year.

The number of sexual offences committed on public transport has recently hit the headlines and last year BTP recorded 12 instances of sexual assault on a female over 13 in the borough. Two sexual assaults on children under 13 (one boy and one girl) and two counts of outraging public decency were also recorded.

In Merton, the number of sexual offences has not significantly risen in the past year but over the past five years there has been an increasing trend.

Graffiti is another type of crime on the rise, with 31 instances recorded last year, in comparison to 24 the previous year.

The total number of crimes committed on public transport has risen and fallen over the past five years, but there has been a year-on-year increase since 2014, in which 182 crimes were recorded. Back in 2015, 195 crimes were recorded, compared to 311 this year.

Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond said: "Whilst I am pleased that overall crime appears to be static, or in many cases falling, the worrying trend of crime increasing on public transport underlines the need for Wimbledon Police Station to stay open. It is critical both local constabulary and British Transport Police officers are near a station."

Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “Like most police forces in England and Wales, we recorded more crimes in 2016/17. This was due to a number of factors, including victims and witnesses having the confidence to report crime to us, thanks in part to our discreet and convenient text 61016 service, and targeted campaigns to encourage reporting of crime.

“Despite this increase, the chance of you becoming a victim of crime on the railway remains low, with just 16 crimes for every million journeys made on our railways. A decade ago, we recorded more than twice this, with 35 crimes for every million passenger journeys.

“As the network expands and becomes busier, it’s not surprising that more crimes are recorded. In 2016/17, 987 million more journeys were made on the railway than 10 years before – a total of 3.2 billion journeys a year. Stations are also becoming entertainment hubs, with Birmingham New Street and London St Pancras just two examples of railway stations attracting more people to their shops, bars and coffee shops.

“In addition to the increase in the number of people using the railway, we have also worked hard to make it easier for people to report crime to us.

“We’ve been running a number of campaigns directed at encouraging people to report crimes that previously may have been underreported – including our Report It To Stop It campaign aimed at driving down sexual offences and We Stand Together aimed at encouraging reporting of hate crime.

“Over the past decade, we have seen crime on the railway decrease. Recorded crimes are more than a third lower than they were 10 years ago, despite passenger journeys increasing by 44% in that time. Crime on the railway has decreased by 34% compared with 2006/07, and crimes like robbery have decreased by 82 per cent, theft of passenger property by 47 per cent and criminal damage by 55 per cent.”

How to stay safe

British Transport Police's advice to staying safe includes:

  • Be aware of your surroundings and look confident about where you are going.
  • Avoid poorly lit areas and try to stay in sight of CCTV cameras or close to other people.
  • Avoid listening to headphones, as they can prevent you from being aware of what's happening around you.
  • Keep your own belongings close to you and make sure valuables are kept out of sight.
  • Report unattended bags or packages immediately.
  • When you board, choose a carriage where you feel comfortable.
  • Protect your privacy. Giving out personal details on a mobile phone or displaying them on a luggage label, document or laptop could alert thieves.
  • Note where the emergency alarm is located in case you need to use it.

How to beat pickpockets

British Transport Police say:

  • Keep purses secure and carry wallets in an inside pocket.
  • Zip up hand and shoulder bags.
  • Carry bags in front of you with flaps against your body.
  • Keep straps short and bags tucked under your arm.
  • Don’t display jewellery.
  • Don’t show your money — keep it safely in your pocket.
  • Watch videos on the tricks of pickpockets.