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It might be tucked safely away in the suburbs but Surbiton station is among the most crime-ridden in London, according to a new report.

The London Assembly transport committee has listed the 20 stations in London outside zone one with the highest crime levels during 2004 to 2005.

Surbiton, which was recently named Rail Station of the Year at the 2005 London Transport Awards, had the seventh highest crime levels with 166 crimes reported at the station in 2004.

This compares with East Croydon at the top of the list with 328, Clapham Junction second with 273 and neighbouring Richmond 16th on the list with 96.

The types of crime covered in the survey include mugging, robberies, sexual assaults, vandalism and graffiti.

London Assembly member, Roger Evans, says crime level at London's stations reflects a lack of joined-up thinking between railway companies and councils, as well as a lack of station staff.

He said: "It is unacceptable that many of London's train stations are unwelcoming and threatening areas, especially during the evenings."

But a South West Trains spokesman said the figures for Surbiton Station need to be put in to context.

He said: "Over 5.5million people go through Surbiton each year as it is a very busy station.

"It was actually train station of the year in 2005 because we did a lot of work with the council improving disabled parking spaces.

"We are looking to reduce the number of crimes further and we have Travel Safe Patrols."

The patrols operate like police community support officers, employed by South West Trains but deployed by British Transport Police.

Surbiton Station has 43 CCTV cameras linked to a 24-hour monitoring centre.

It can also be monitored through help points at the stations so you can push a button and speak to someone at the centre.

9:50am Friday 3rd February 2006

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