Assessment tool – Secure Interchanges Scheme: design and management audit for interchange managers
The Secure Interchanges Scheme is a design and management audit allowing operators to assess the secure status of their interchange. The audit document enables gaps in security or other issues relating to the safety and security of passengers and staff at the station to be identified at any point in time.
The audit can be carried out any time from the finalising of the design to when the interchange is established. In all cases, it can prompt changes and highlight scope for improvement, both of the physical design and the management of the facility.
Improvements can then be selected and prioritised and carried out together or incrementally to suit budgets and needs.
The audit covers the following topics:
Safety and Security through design
– Site perimeters, entrances and exits
– Formal surveillance
– Informal surveillance
– Landscaping
– Lighting
– Visibility
– Information to passengers
– Calling for help
Safety and Security through management
– Staff security
– Ticketing and cash
– Securing passenger property
– Maintenance
| NODES strategic objective | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Enhance accessibility and integration | 0 |
| Enhance intermodality | 0 |
| Enhance liveability | 0 |
| Increase safety and security conditions | ++ |
| Increase economic viability and costs efficiency | 0 |
| Stimulate local economy | 0 |
| Increase environmental efficiency | 0 |
| Increase energy efficiency | 0 |
Good practice
UK Department for Transport. Secure Stations Scheme
Design and Crime, British Transport Police – a checklist of measures to design out or reduce crime and perceived crime and fear
Managing to reduce crime and increase security, British Transport Police
Application in NODES sites:
This tool has been evaluated by the NODES site in Thessaloniki.
In Thessaloniki, the “Secure Interchanges Scheme” was applied at the IKEA Bus Interchange. It was considered well structured and well developed as it covers all aspects of the interchange’s safety and security assessment. Such a tool or scheme did not exist previously in Greece and this application was probably the first time that such an assessment of an interchange’s safety and security performance had been attempted.
Potential interchange performance improvement
The Secure Interchanges Scheme is a useful tool for increasing awareness of design and management issues that may have a very real impact on perceived and actual safety and security. By heightening awareness, the tool prompts possible changes in design and management to improve station safety and security according to the unique situation of the station being assessed, e.g. size, age, level of patronage, surrounding physical and social environment, crime levels.
Meeting the Secure Stations Scheme standards can help interchanges managers to:
– prevent or reduce crime and disorder, providing a safer environment for passengers and staff
– increase passenger numbers as passengers perceive the station to be more safe/secure
– reduce costs of repair following vandalism, graffiti, etc., and of lost staff time due to distress or injury
– enhance the quality of the waiting environment and the surrounding area
– gain good local publicity for your rail business or other modes
Resources
– Cost indication for use of tool
Self-analysis by stakeholders, surveying passengers’ perceptions.
– Other resources needed for use of the tool
No other resources needed to administer audit
– Indication of larger costs tool use can engender
The audit could indicate a need for investment in design or management of the station
– Distribution of costs between stakeholders
Costs could be split between stakeholders for the audit and for any proposals arising from the audit
References
www.gov.uk/secure-stations-scheme-accreditation-for-rail-operators
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/4315/sss-guideline-02.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/4316/sss-guideline-03.pdf