A NEW police team at Oxford station starts work today to cut crime on the county’s railway network.

British Transport Police fully reopened its office at the station the morning, and hope that six uniformed officers will make passengers feel safer on board Oxfordshire’s trains.

Since the office shut in the early 1990s, the nearest BTP base was in Reading.

One sergeant, three constables and two Pcsos make up the new team, which will police the railway lines between Oxford and Didcot, Bicester, Kings Sutton and Charlbury.

Sgt Adrian Naylor, who is head of the team, said crime at Oxford station was already low and falling.

In 2009, 142 crimes were reported at the station, 45 per cent of them either bicycle thefts or related crimes.

Last year, 39 of the 115 reported crimes, or 34 per cent, were related to bike theft. Incidents of antisocial behaviour halved from 28 in 2009 to 14 last year.

Sgt Naylor said: “Our main aim is to make people feel safe to travel, and show the station is a safe place to be. People like to see an officer in uniform or a Psco.

“We have a keen team and they’re looking forward to the challenge.”

More than five million passengers use Oxford station each year, with the numbers expected to grow further with forthcoming electrification of the main line to London Paddington and the prospect of a second Rail link to London, via Bicester, if Chiltern Railways’ Evergreen3 plan is approved.

BTP area commander Chief Supt Mark Smith said: “We really wanted to make sure as a force we have the right level of resources in place, not just for now but for future growth.”

Claire Mann, train operator First Great Western’s east area general manager, said: “For a passenger, there’s nothing better than seeing a police officer, even just to get the feeling there’s someone watching over you.”

The police team held a drop-in surgery in the booking hall at Oxford station on Friday to talk to passengers about crime and safety issues.