Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make functioning CCTV mandatory on trains, buses and coaches and associated stations.

The installation and use of CCTV on vehicles and at stations is an operational decision with many operators and local authorities choosing to install CCTV on their networks.

As of March 2024, 96% of buses used by local operators in England were equipped with CCTV, some coach operators already use CCTV on their vehicles, and most new train procurements since 1996 have included CCTV provision.

On the railway, where CCTV is installed, National Rail Contracts and Service Agreements require operators to comply with relevant industry guidance and standards. This includes ensuring that CCTV equipment is properly maintained and remains in working order, and that recorded images are securely stored and retained so they are available to support investigations when required. Train operators are expected to follow the Rail Safety and Standards Board’s Rail Industry Standard for on‑train camera monitoring systems, which covers matters such as system performance, image quality, secure storage and retention.

The Department recently announced nearly £17 million of funding for a project to connect railway station CCTV directly to the British Transport Police and is exploring expanding the provision and use of CCTV on the bus network, to increase feelings of safety and reduce the length of police investigations.