CRIME on buses in Waltham Forest has dropped by nine per cent in the last year, according to figures released by the Mayor of London.

The figures show falls in violent incidents on the buses (down 17 per cent), robbery (18 per cent) criminal damage (11 per cent) and sexual offences (40 per cent).

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said the figures show the new police team patrolling the borough's transport hubs, set up in January, is working.

He said: “When I became Mayor, I pledged to make buses, trains and stations safer.

“It is extremely encouraging to see the positive effect these policing teams are already having in Waltham Forest and across the rest of the capital. “Crime on buses has fallen in every single borough and this is in no small part thanks to the increased number of officers around our transport network.”