/ 17 December 2008

Police to focus on train crime over festive season

Police will embark on a nationwide crime-prevention operation on the country’s trains amid increased passenger loads over the festive season, Captain Dennis Adriao said on Wednesday.

”The operation will primarily focus on passenger rail, such as metro rail and long-distance trains,” Adriao said in a statement.

”Although there are no specific threats to the rail environment, the rapidly increasing volume of commuters during this period has demanded greater interventions.”

He said there would be more police and private security on duty.

The head of railway police, Assistant Commissioner Andre Venter, urged people to use trains as their primary mode of transport.

”The trains are much safer now than four years ago and the use of trains by our people will help to drastically reduce the carnage on roads, particularly over this festive period,” he said. — Sapa