Just over a month ago, one of our researchers applied to TfL under the FOI Act, for the gross cost of The Safer Travel at Night initiative (STaN), since its inception in 2002. At the same time we also asked for the same gross cost to TfL of operation Sapphire since its inception in 2002.
TfL's answer to FOI request;
TfL has made savings on the campaign over the years, reducing its costs from over £1m a few years ago. We will continue to look for ways to reduce these costs whilst ensuring the effectiveness of the campaign. The annual costs to TfL for the STaN campaign since 2002/3 are shown in the table below.
Year STaN Campaign spend
2002/03 *
2003/04 £85.7k*
2004/05 £782.8k
2005/06 £1,098.8k
2006/07 £1,030.8k
2007/08 £793k
2008/09 £862k
2009/10 £660k
2010/11 £650k
*The campaign was predominantly funded by the Greater London Authority.
Operation Sapphire,
is not part of the STaN initiative and TfL does not hold any information on its costs. The Sapphire Command is part of the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD). The primary role of the Sapphire Command is the investigation of rapes and other serious sexual violence with an emphasis on not only bringing offenders to justice, but victim care and support. Sapphire officers work closely with the Cab Enforcement Unit and TfL to investigate cab-related sexual offences. SCD also has responsibility for investigating other serious crimes including murder and armed robbery.
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| Client: Transport for London / Brand: Safer Travel At Night / Marketing director: Chris Macleod / Brand manager: Miranda Leedham / Agency: M&C Saatchi |
The Anderson Shelter would like to ask a question about Operation Sapphire and STaN.
FACTS
- In 2008-9 there were 93 serious sexual assaults, including rape. Under Operation Sapphire, there were 6 successful prosecutions and convictions. In the same year (2008-09), TfL spent £862k on their controversial "Safer Travel at Night" (STaN) agenda.
- The following year 2009-2010 TfL decided it would be a good idea to cut the budget for STaN by 25% to £660k. there followed a 54% rise in the serious sexual assault and rape figures (140) but amazingly a 50% drop in detection prosecution and conviction to just 3 cases.
- Under these circumstances, in the following year (2010-2011) TfL decided to cut the budget again to £650k, resulting in a projected Assault and rape figure similar to the previous year ( only 10 months results are currently available). No statistics of arrests and convictions are available for 2010-11.
Under these circumstances, do TfL seriously consider that this budget for advertising is money well spent?
In a statement in 2002/3 TfL said;
"prevention was the best form of detection".
Surely these latest figures show STaN isn't working.
TfL claim STaN is Working:
FOI request reply states;
Safer Travel at Night (STaN) is one of TfL's key safety and security campaigns. Independent research shows that STaN is effective in reaching its target audience, young women, and persuading them not to use unbooked minicabs. Female usage of unbooked minicabs has fallen from 19 per cent in 2003 to 3 per cent in 2011 - its lowest level.
The Anderson Shelter would seriously challenge this finding.
When was this research undertaken?
How many people took part in this survey?
How many people took part in this survey?
How did TfL arrive at these figures?
It stands to reason that if the serious sexual assault and rape figures are at an all time high, then the instances of victims using unbooked minicabs would also be at an all time high.
You only have to stand outside any Nightclub, Bar or Restaurant for a short while and watch customers being shepherded to lines of illegally ranking minicabs.
Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of unlicensed minicabs hanging around the center of the West End. They get away with their illegal actions, because there is virtually no enforcement to discourage this practice.
New York has 400 Cab Enforcement officers to control 13000 yellow cabs, working around the clock!
TfL has 4 cab enforcement officers currently working nights!
Never thought I would see the day when it would be safer to take a cab in New York than in London.
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| Funny how they can always find the manpower for bus enforcement |
see full report of FOI request click here.
Can somebody please tell me how they know that female usage of unbooked minicabs has fallen from 19% to 3% ?
ReplyDeleteHow do you conduct such a survey?
Ask every female in this city?
I suggest this figure has been pulled from their backsides!
Your at it again Editor! You rascal you!
ReplyDeleteWhen will you learn that TfL views your information (even if it's TfL's own figures) both misleading and hostile.
Be a good boy like the UTG and say nothing that might show a poor light on TfL. Is it any wonder thats the only people Mr Mason will meet with those who have STaNesia.
One awaits the survey methodology and data with interest, but we all thought that Mr Mason said that FOI was costly and time consuming and all anyone has to do is ask directly.
Therefore as avid AS blogreaders Mr Mason & Ms. Chapman we are sure you will just send it in for posting up and save us all time and money.
We all surely all on the side of truth are we not?
The email reply in Taxi leaks sounds like it was written by John Mason, same old waffle and BS that he always comes out with.
ReplyDeleteUnless this survey was carried out at night when the public's judgement has been suitably addled by excessive drinking it holds NO relevance to support the stated statistics!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of the victims of sexual assaults were touted leaving venues that have an active satellite office with vehicles forming an illegal rank outside.John Mason claims there is no evidence to support this. Plus the police have admitted neglect and inconsistencies when collating the evidence of what vehicle the victims travelled in!
What a load of bollox and total cover up job of completely failed policy!!
This is TfL typical smoke and mirrors at it's best.
ReplyDeleteUnsubstansiated statistics, trying to turn negative results into positive statements.
Mason saying although the figures kook higher, there actually lower.... Blah blah blah
It's not about the money?????
The same way they change the way they collate the rape figures when Caroline Pigeon asked for last years figures. They sent her back results that made it look like the amount of attacks had fallen. After closer inspection it was fir only Ten months and not a full year.
It's socking they have gotten away with this for so long.
It needs the national press to get involved with a proper investigation.
How boring is this Stan stuff, find another, more interesting windmill to tilt at, please!
ReplyDeleteLet's get Gilligan involved!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHow boring is this Stan stuff, find another, more interesting windmill to tilt at, please!
Ok Maurice, lets talk about Grant Davis's theme tune. "Your once, twice, three times a loser" and each time you have been by his side. Or should I say snide!
Anonymous1
ReplyDeleteYou will have plenty of time to get bored when you are standing in the dole queue!
"How boring is this Stan stuff"
ReplyDeleteIncrease in sexual assaults is boring you then anon ?
You really are a f***ing brainless moron then pal. I hope that it's never your wife or daughter; there again maybe i hope it is. That way just maybe you may wake up those sleeping statues like Grant and Bob and other clueless pr**ks like yourself that seem to think rape is a non issue.
Try dealing with it directly mate then see what it's like. I'm not a violent person but right now i'd like to knock seven shades out of someone like you.
Incredible to believe in 21st Century London we still have drivers like this in the trade, no wonder we're doomed!
Time to get Grant out; Bob out and Peter out. I'll hold judgement on the new leader at RMT (taxis) as i know little of him but we seriously need new, young blood representing us before the wolves deliver us our fatal blow.
TfL and TPH continue to divert attention away from the multi-agency conspiracy to defraud London cab drivers out of their rightful living by turning a blind eye to illegal ranks of mini-cabs and the activities of illegally run satellite offices.
ReplyDeleteNobody in their right mind would disagree with the public being educated about the risk of entering a PH vehicle when drunk; whether booked legally or not they have a proven record of being unsafe.The problem is 150+ people are being sexually assaulted in PH vehicles per annum and little to nothing is being done to resolve the core issue of this problem.
STaN has failed the general public, the Met and CoL police have failed to deliver adequate policing for this problem. TPH and STC aren't fit for purpose and last but not least the UTG have buried their heads in the sand, or up the backsides of TfL and are whistling their theme tune in unison "silence is golden" and still mug cab drivers continue to subscribe to these totally useless trade organisations!
The general public are being held down and raped courtesy of TfL's disgraceful failed policy and so is the London cab trade!
It's time for the banners to be put up outside Palestra AGAIN!!!
The genie is out the bag, so I went to captain Bob to ask him what I should put in the Badge this month to explain to my members why I have deceived them. He just told me to f*#k off and that he was too busy hanging up on his members who were asking difficult questions about why the LTDA haven't published anything about STaN.
ReplyDeleteSo I called Peter, but he isn't replying to emails or answering his phone. Apparently he is on sick leave awaiting an operation for a backbone transplant.
Trigger has gone into hiding and him down the Walworth Rd got himself rumbled on the forum. The only mug I am left with is one from the royal wedding. There is always old faithful, looks like I will have to put his mug in the paper again. Still doesn't solve my problem of a ghost writer. Come back Becky all is forgiven. Please x
I still believe we are approaching the wrong people,I believe the ones we should be approaching are thr tourist boards of all the countrys that are participating in the Olympics with these figures,And ask them to inform people of just how unsafe London really is.How we have a Mayor and Police force that refuse to act.Maybe something like "If you want to stay safe in London,stay in at night"
ReplyDeleteSo if we include Private Hire and us as licence holders that's about 90,000 licencees.
ReplyDeleteTfl are spending about £7.00 pounds per licence on STaN, We pay for our testing on top so one can only wonder what the rest is spent on!
Mr. Mason as a regular reader, please let us know, saves yet another FOI request, as you say all we have to do is ask.