Central line has no on board CCTV and upgrade will not be completed until 2023

Residents and neighbours have complained that a section of the journey, past Wanstead is too loud. Picture: Transport for London TFL

The Central line is one of the only Tube lines across London not to have on board CCTV.

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Along with the Bakerloo line, the carriages on the service do not have internal cameras but do have CCTV on the platforms.

There are plans to upgrade the trains on the red route, which are home to some of the oldest carriages in London, but this will not be completed until 2023. According to data from the British Transport Police (BTP) the Central line also has the highest number of sexual offences reported. Between July 2016 and January 2018, 100 were flagged up through BTP’s 61016 text message service. In contrast, the Circle line had the lowest amount of reported sexual incidents and four people reported via text.

The Bakerloo line had 25 reported incidents Last week detectives launched an investigation after two men tried to abduct a five-year-old standing with his father on a platform in Gants Hill. A BTP spokesman said officers attended the scene and conducted an extensive search, however, the two men had already left the area. Following the story, readers got in contact to ask why the suspects could not be traced on CCTV and the Recorder asked Transport for London (TfL) for a response. Peter McNaught, director of asset operations for London Underground said: “All our passengers have the right to travel without fear or intimidation and we work closely with the BTP to make sure our trains and stations are safe and secure. “There is an extensive network of more than 12,000 CCTV cameras operating across the Tube network including CCTV at all Central line stations. “There are also 3,000 police and police community support officers dedicated to policing the transport network. “We encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses a crime to report it as quickly as possible, so offenders can be brought to justice.

“Central line trains are among the oldest on the Tube network. A programme of upgrade and repair works is currently underway on these trains including the retrofit of CCTV. This work will be completed by 2023.”

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