CRIME on underground stations across the District has dropped by 11 percent according to figures released today.

The stats, released by the British Transport police show that the number of reported incidents, including robbery, criminal damage and sexual assault have dropped from last years figures.

Announcing the reduction in crime on Tube trains and at stations in Epping Forest, Chief Superintendent Miles Flood attributed the good results to the launch of high-profile Neighbourhood Policing Teams, which were introduced last year.

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 Epping Forest, 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.”

He added that assaults against London Underground staff were also down 5 percent but that the fear of crime remained high.

He said: "Reducing this type of crime is something we will continue to pour a lot of effort into as nobody should have to fear being spat at or physically assaulted when they are simply doing their job.”

Epping Forest District has six underground stops; Theydon Bois, Epping, Grange Hill, Buckhurst Hill, Roding Valley and Loughton.