£30m awarded to transport police

Alistair Darling announced the £30m investment

Police forces tackling crime on Britain's transport network have been given a £30m boost.

The money will be used to buy more anti-terror units, update communication equipment and improve internal links.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling made the announcement at the opening of the new London South Area headquarters in London Bridge on Thursday.

The new HQ will be responsible for policing stations and trains in south London and the southern Home Counties.

Mr Darling said the money "was a recognition of the huge pressures the force now faces".

Safe travel

He said: "It is crucial that the London South force have good facilities... as a quarter of recorded crime and almost half of all robberies occur in this region."

He said although the force had done "remarkably well... passengers and staff deserve better.

"I am now convinced the force has the right finance and structures in place to give people the freedom to travel more safely and securely," he added.

It will bring together the Crime Management centre, the Operations Department and Case Building Team to improve communication in the force.