Article: New figures show inner-city stations are most violent

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 12th October 2009 online Courier Mail click here!

New figures show inner-city stations are most violent

New figures show inner-city stations are most violent
Article from: MX

Torny Jensen of mX

October 12, 2009 02:21pm

BRISBANE'S inner-city train stations are hubs of violent crime, with the city's busiest stations recording most of the 224 violent assaults in the 12 months to March.

The assault figures for Central, Roma St and South Brisbane stations are contained in statistics obtained exclusively by mX through Right to Information laws.

They reveal that at Central Station, which deals with more than 70,000 passengers a day, a total of 16 assaults occurred including nine attacks that resulted in visible injuries.

Commuters using Central are also more likely to have their personal belongings stolen, with the station recording the highest number of pickpocketing and theft incidents of any station.

Central also recorded more public nuisance offences than any other station, with 33 out of a total 318 public nuisance offences taking place there.

There were 11 assaults at Roma St station, including two assaults on police, while at South Brisbane there were 10 assaults, including one that resulted in serious injury and two assaults on police.

Overall, police recorded three assaults that resulted in grievous bodily harm at South Brisbane station, Hemmant, on the Cleveland line, and Wacol, on the Ipswich line.

But violent crime isn't restricted to busy city transport hubs, with six assaults occurring at Ipswich and Toombul stations and five at Beenleigh and Helensvale stations.

Commuters travelling from the city's outlying suburbs, meanwhile, are most likely to have their vehicles raided by criminals.

Fifteen incidents of car break-ins were recorded at Robina, on the Gold Coast more than anywhere else while Ipswich line stations Ebbw Vale and Wacol recorded 14 and 12 respectively.

While stations and trains have emergency buttons that commuters can push to alert rail staff of incidents, rail advocacy group Rail Back on Track has called for the introduction of a contact number that can be used by passengers to SMS or call authorities directly.

Spokesman Robert Dow said people who feel their safety could be compromised if they push an alert button can use their mobile phones more discreetly.

The advocacy group has called for the number to be listed on posters on trains and in stations.

Queensland Police has a specific Rail Squad that targets train-related crime. Commuters are also encouraged to approach Queensland Rail or TransLink staff if they feel unsafe.

Assault figures:

Central - 16 assaults
Roma St - 11 assaults
South Brisbane - 10 assaults
Southbank - 8 assaults
Brunswick - 6 assaults
Ipswich - 6 assaults
Toombul - 6 assaults

mX is free at outlets in the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 13th October 2009 page 2

Don't fear network

[stephenk]

I would like to see comparable crime figures for similar sized areas away from the train station such as part of Queen Street. It wouldn't be surprising that the crime rate away from the stations is higher than the crime rate in the stations.

[Sunbus610]

Odd....Bray Park station doesn't get a mention hey

[STB]

I'm surprised that Birkdale, Woodridge, Kingston (they have security with a muzzled dog!), Loganlea, Strathpine and Morayfield didn't get a mention.

Personally I find those stations as the ones to avoid if one can help it.