Transport committee's report on bus crime was even-handed

It is unfortunate that London Assembly Members John Biggs and Murad Qureshi have chosen to attack me over the Transport Committee s recent report on Crime and Disorder on the Bus Network. It seems clear that the two Labour members made a political decisio

It is unfortunate that London Assembly Members John Biggs and Murad Qureshi have chosen to attack me over the Transport Committee's recent report on Crime and Disorder on the Bus Network. It seems clear that the two Labour members made a political decision - or perhaps were ordered - to distance themselves from the report's findings because they thought it might embarrass Ken Livingstone.

Similarly, Transport for London's knee-jerk reaction of trying to rubbish this report is incredibly disappointing, but it is a reaction that I have become used to after eight years of this Mayor.

The Transport Committee produced an even-handed report, which was endorsed by all the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, One London and Green Assembly Members on the Committee. The report praised TfL for increasing the uniformed presence on buses and for using technology to prevent and solve crime.

However, we also noted that crime on buses is higher than it was two years ago and that there were real concerns amongst a great many Londoners regarding anti-social behaviour on buses. Anti-social behaviour leads to fear of crime and fear of crime makes people less likely to use public transport. It is a great shame, therefore, that the Mayor has chosen not to take this report seriously.

Roger Evans, AM