This resource is from the News section. This page contains press release 45/00, which discusses the plan to offer police officers free rail travel into and out of London.

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Met Police on track for free rail travel

45/00
12 December 2000

From tomorrow (Wednesday 13 December) the Met’s police officers will be able to travel on a main line railway network for the first time free of charge.

Silverlink, which operates trains between Euston and Birmingham New Street and many other commuter routes around London, Bedford and St Albans, has decided to allow all of the Met’s officers to travel on and off duty simply by showing their warrant cards.

Interviews and photographs are available at the scheme’s launch at 8.30am at the ticket barrier to platforms 8-11, Euston railway station, tomorrow morning (13 December).

Available for interview will be Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Toby Harris, Silverlink’s Director of Metro Services Charlie Beaumont, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens and police officers who will benefit from the scheme.

Free travel was first introduced in the 1970s by London Transport in response to a rise in crime and attacks on staff on the network. Since then officers have often intervened to prevent disputes escalating or to arrest criminals.

Met officers can already travel free on London buses, the Underground, Dockland Light Railway and Croydon Tramlink.

Notes to editors

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office.