Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
This statement provides an update on the provision of CCTV cameras on railway stations.
I am committed to ensuring our communities are safe places to live, and CCTV, if deployed appropriately, can be an important tool in protecting the public and supporting the fight against crime.
Whilst rail infrastructure is non-devolved and the provision of CCTV in railway stations is a matter for Network Rail and the British Transport Police, we are committed to improving safety and security across the Welsh rail network.
We have funded modern CCTV systems of evidential quality on all Arriva Trains Wales services and where we are funding station upgrades, improved CCTV will be included. New stations will incorporate CCTV of evidential quality as a matter of course.
I expect the UK Government and Network Rail to invest in improvements in stations, including appropriate CCTV systems. I am aware there are a number of stations which remain with older, lower quality CCTV and I shall continue to press the UK Government to address this.
Further to my commitment to providing a safe and secure transport system, I have allocated £257,000 annually for a period of three years starting in April 2014 for the continued funding of British Transport Police Community Support Officers and part funding of a Police Inspector post. This is an addition to the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government to commitment for additional Police Community Support Officers.