Translink: Vandalism

Lady Hermon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were (a) convicted and (b) charged with vandalising Translink property in each of the last five years; and what the average penalty imposed in each case was. (128122)

Translink has advised that it does not maintain records of unsuccessful prosecutions. The number of successful prosecutions for vandalism is as set out in the following table.

	Number of convictions	Average penalty (£)
2006	5	400.00
2005	8	92.10
2004	7	291.70
2003	6	105.50
2002	5	24.00

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of vandalism to Translink property were recorded in each of the last five years; and what steps he is taking to reduce such figures. (128123)

Translink has provided details of incidents of vandalism in the following tables.

Table 1 refers to vandalism on Northern Ireland Railways property, covering damage to buildings, track and trains. The majority of incidents relate to damage caused to trains.

Table 1: Recorded number of incidents
2006	449
2005	367
2004	408
2003	543
2002	636

Table 2 refers to vandalism on property of Ulsterbus and Metro.

*Table 2: Recorded number of incidents*
	To buildings etc.	To buses
2006	79	882
2005	170	1,002
2004	53	797
2003	n/a	n/a
2002	n/a	n/a

Translink is seeking to tackle vandalism by expanding CCTV coverage both at Translink premises and on board buses and trains. Translink may also employ covert surveillance, where appropriate.

Volume 458: debated on Wednesday 28 March 2007