MORE passengers were robbed on Tube trains and stations in Redbridge than in any other London borough last year.

The number of robberies on the Central Line in Redbridge was the highest in the capital last year - despite a 15 per cent drop in overall crime.

New figures, from British Transport Police (BTP), show there were 15 reported robberies on the Tube in the borough during the past 12 months.

Westminster had the second highest number with 13 incidents reported.

However BTP Chief Superintendent Miles Flood said the overall crime figures were encouraging - with 370 incidents last year, a drop of 65 - and put the general decrease down to the introduction of new Neighbourhood Policing Teams on the underground network.

He said: “Nearly a year ago we launched a new style of policing by forming Neighbourhood Policing Teams across the entire Tube network and these crime reductions are testament to the new way we do business.

“The 30 teams working on the Tube and DLR, including the team that operates in Redbridge, have been getting to know the policing needs of their local communities and responding to those needs and as a result we’ve achieved significant reductions in overall crime.”

But Chief Supt Flood admitted more still needed to be done to tackle fear of crime among passengers.

He added: “The figures show that the Tube is undoubtedly safe, and getting safer, but we know that for various reasons some people feel unsafe when they travel and it’s this fear of crime that we want to tackle.”

Howard Collins, Chief Operating Officer of London Underground, said: “Overall crime on the Tube and DLR is low with just 13 crimes per million passenger journeys so passengers have good reason to feel safe, but there is always more to do.

"For this reason we will continue to work closely with the Police and go on investing in security whilst we upgrade the network.”

Of the 370 reported crimes on the Tube in the borough, there were 39 violent crimes, six sexual crimes, 131 cases of criminal damage, 52 thefts from passengers, 15 robberies and 43 public order offences.

Overall total reported crime on the Tube and Docklands Light Railway is down eight per cent.