Police officers are to be permanently positioned on buses in Haringey after a successful trial period.

Crime on buses has fallen by almost a third since police officers stationed themselves on the transport through Wood Green.

Over the four-month trial period since May, sexual offences and robbery have dropped off by around 40 per cent and burrglary by more than 30 per cent.

The new safer transport teams, consisting of 21 officers, will now be a permanent addition to Wood Green’s bus routes in a bid to make residents feel safer.

Steve Burton, director of community safety enforcement and policing at Transport for London, said: “Haringey’s safer transport teams are really getting to know their communities and are a visible deterrant to those who intend to commit crimes on and around the bus network. Buses are getting even safer and hopefully passengers are feeling the difference.”

The teams have also been catching fare-evaders, fining 59 people in one evening last week. Sergeant Lesley Anne Hitchen, who heads Haringey’s bus team, or “hub”, was commended for her work during the scheme’s trial period.

She said: “The Hub teams are a great idea as having a team dedicated to policing a specific area within a borough can make much more of an impact.

“The reaction of the Haringey community to both teams have been really supportive. We are regularly out on patrols so many people in the area now recognise us. Our visible presence definitely has an important role to play in Haringey and people can see that we’re making a real difference.”

Following the success of the teams in Haringey, the scheme will be rolled out across the rest of London.