The use of CCTV cameras at bus stops is set to be rolled out across London after a trial scheme made female passengers feel safer. TfL has been piloting the idea at 20 bus stops as part of Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s wider efforts to reduce violence against women and girls.

Now the scheme is to be expanded after having a “very positive impact” – as long as funding can be found, says the London Evening Standard.

The scheme launched in April last year at five bus shelters – at Peckham Library, Finsbury Park, Gants Hill, Stratford and Turnpike Lane. In November a further 15 locations were announced as part of a 12-month trial of the effectiveness of the surveillance cameras.

The 15 additional locations were in Brent, Croydon, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Westminster.

These included locations with high footfall, quieter locations with less frequent bus services, higher crime areas, or locations where women and girls have reported feeling more unsafe.

TfL has been surveying women passengers at four of the first bus stops to be fitted with CCTV. Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said the initial feedback had been hugely positive.

“Over 1,000 women have been surveyed, with 80 per cent saying the presence of CCTV made them feel safer, and 73 per cent said they were more likely to travel by bus if there was CCTV at other bus shelters. We are going to analyse the remaining 16 shelters. It’s quite clear that rolling out CCTV at bus shelters is definitely the way forward. It’s had a very, very positive impact.

“We need to ensure we have the funding to do so, but it sounds like we will be rolling it out further now.”

(Pic: TfL)