Thanks

home security surrey

We need better systems and security. Those that are against more Skytrain security or the odd dog (only two) how will you feel when something happens and you’re alone on the train?

I’ve always been treated well by the Skytrain security / cops. I remember when they didn’t have weapons and watched a female Skytrain security person wrestle with a drugged out guy with a knife. Too many people are in denial about the level of threat the general public is under with un-checked free to roam criminals.

Where does the disrespecting elderly and and children comment come in? The guy with the backpack knocking people over as he pushes in, and Chatty
Cathy on her cell phone sitting in the seniors seat and not getting up for your Grandma are bigger issues.

I take the skytrain and one bus to school and back home at least 4 days a week, September to April. Since this semester began I have not even once seen fares being checked. This makes me angry because I feel like some of the individuals who might be contributing to the decreased safety of the transit facilities might be the kinds of people who jump fare.

Secondly: I have heard that the amount of money lost as a result of fare jumpers is negligable (according to Translink). I’m sick and tired of Translink saying they are short on cash. Why? Because every single bus I have ridden has plenty of room inside for advertising. I see panels that are completely outdated which advertise sales that have been over for months and months, or paneling that is completely empty and blank. I’d fire the Translink advertisement marketing team for that. At least they could take down stuff that’s expired!

I have noticed a slight increase in Translink Police Patrols in the past couple weeks, but I wish the Transit Police would check some fares while they are on the train instead of just standing around and talking to each other about the stock market! It blows my mind how inefficient the company is right now.

And don’t even get me started on the lack of turnstiles and long platforms/short trains. Oh, and the privatized monopoly on our public (PUBLIC) transit system? Gah!

I get that our metropolitan area is relatively young in comparison to Europe’s major cities, but we are supposed to learn from their examples. I came home from London last year and my first experience back on Translink Transit was excruciating. Hey Translink – check out the Tube. And please, fly economy. I don’t want to pay for your business class seat. P.S. Mind the Gap.

All this said, it could be worse, and usually I don’t mind the skytrain. It’s just nice to finally have the opportunity to discuss the problems.

This is Jhenifer here from the Buzzer blog, and I just want to say a) great post on the topic, Rebecca, and b) it’s great seeing the feedback from everybody on the strategies we’re looking at.

As well, I just wanted to take a moment to clarify some items, which are getting a bit muddled in the overall discussion for some reason.

First, the police dogs are *not* drug-sniffing dogs. The dogs are sniffing for explosives, and only one or two dogs will be on the system. (The Olympics in 2010 certainly present security concerns of this type.) As well, the use of dogs is a major “if” right now. So, please don’t think that there will be packs of dogs roaming the SkyTrain and aggressively pursuing everybody for the faintest trace of drugs–that’s not the intent at all!

The second item is that I’m not sure it’s clear that there’s an overall strategy behind the big list of security actions that are presented. All of these actions fall under a security strategy consisting of four themes: reassurance, engagement, infrastructure, and intervention. (Check out the full explanation behind each theme on the Buzzer blog security post .)

So, I just wanted to point out that these security actions aren’t taking place at random or in isolation. The Transit Police is really trying to take an active, broad look at the issues surrounding SkyTrain security, including the social issues of homelessness and drugs around the stations. So that’s why one of the key themes driving the security strategy is actually “intervention”: taking public security beyond the realm of law enforcement and attacking the root causes of crime through an integrated approach with health, social and mental health services.

And last: the Transit Police are essentially a police force devoted to the SkyTrain. There’s another branch of our security staff called Transit Security who is more like corporate security akin to Genesis or Paladin. Confusing, I know – we even have a backgrounder to help you tell them apart, which is available back at the Buzzer blog security post.

Anyway, again, great post, and it’s good to read the discussion from all of you!

Just a side note…the Transit Police are in fact that….Police. They are not security (Translink has those as well however). They have pretty much the same power as regular Police Officers, they carry weapons, and can arrest and subdue criminals. I believe one of the reasons for Translink to have their own Police force was the take away any unnecessary burden on the different municipalities Police forces, in which some are RCMP and some are not…and the number of crimes that were happening in and around Translink properties were too numerous for “traditional” Police forces to deal with in a timely manner.

Is it me or are the SkyTrain/Transit Police getting more and more like VPD or something? I thought they were supposed to be a ‘presence’ like Genesis or Paladin Security

I know retailers around skytrain stations are never happy. It allows thieves easy access to getting away. Take LondonDrugs I remember talking to their security department (i used to work for LD) and they hated that Lougheed mall was getting a SkyTrain station because it would allow people to steal and get away quicker. I know it sounds odd but what happens is they would steal from one store, hop on the SkyTrain and then get off a the next store and try to return it saying ‘they forgot the receipt’. Though LD would give them a ‘credit voucher’ and keep the product. Surprisingly some used to do that, or just take off running again lol. Oops I might have gotten off track….

Anyway I think an increase in security presence is a good thing. Don’t know if it needs to be dogs or not.