Transit Security: A Description of Problems and Countermeasures

This report provides a broad perspective on transit security. It examines a wide range of transit security problems encountered by transit systems, namely: crime against passengers and employees; crimes involving revenues, including fare evasion by patrons and revenue theft by employees; and crimes against transit property including vandalism and graffiti. A primary focus is transit crime that is highly publicized and apparent to passengers and consequently has a detrimental effect on transit ridership. In addition, the report also addresses internal security subjects such as facility portection and the integrity of the revenue system. The transit security countermeasures described in this report include: transit security personnel organizations and activities; security management activities; transit policing activities, and products, equipment and technologies used to provide transit security. The report discusses the problem of selecting cost-effective countermeasures for transit crime problems and the process by which change is implemented within transit security organizations. A common theme discussed throughout the report is the systems approach to transit security. The basis of the systems approach is that all elements of a unit are integrated. This study is an initial effort to identify security problems and available countermeasures. Findings and recommendations documented in this report provide a basis for the establishment of a security program to systematically address transit security needs.