More CCTV could be placed at bus stops amid plans to make public transport safer for women

The Transport Secretary said a review had been launched looking at a "package of different elements" that could increase public transport usage by reducing the fear of crime.

He said Rachel Maclean MP, the Minister for Future Transport, was looking at better lighting around bus stops, bringing in more CCTV, and improving the design of areas around bus and train stations.

Mr Shapps was responding to questions from journalists at West Midlands Mayor Andy Street's campaign launch for re-election.

He said: "I've asked Rachel Maclean to specifically work on this issue and we've already got a package of different elements, some of which were already underway and others we are looking at how we can boost, to try to improve safety."

He said CCTV was "not conventionally at bus stops" but could be "quite a useful addition to security". He said better lighting in areas around stations would "make sure there is a sense of safety as you approach the public transport".

On the design of areas around stations, he said: "So everyone knows the feeling of walking down an alleyway that is poorly lit and isn't nicely designed and kind of gives you that sense of insecurity.

"Design is a very big part of helping the environment we all operate in to feel safer – and sometimes physically be safer – so you have fewer blind alleys or corners that you can't see around and so lead to a lack of feeling safe."

Mr Street, who is bidding for a second term of office at May's election, said crime on the region's transport network had fallen "rapidly" in the last 10 years, and was down by 60 per cent on buses.

He said this was down to an increase in the number of safer travel police on the network, and improved technology linking buses, trams and trains to a central control centre.

Mr Street said: "People have real concerns about this, but the truth is the reality is much better than the perception."