I consider this claim as a clumsy PR attempt to lift the falling image of the ov-chipkaart system. If the crimes are moved from the metro stops to the neighborhood, would that make the card promoters happy?

By George | March 1, 2010 2:42 PM

I'm surprised the ov-chipkaart hasn't resulted in more violence in the train stations where the scanners are on posts instead of gates. I think I've almost had my arm broken while trying to scan my card along with 100 other people getting off the metro at the same time.

By AJ | March 1, 2010 3:29 PM

Can I assume that's employees not the general public. I would agree as the current OVG 'Ambassadors' do not even challenge faredodgers who follow people through the barriers with impunity. This would of course guarantee incident rate reduced.

By Peter | March 1, 2010 4:08 PM

I totally agree with George. This article is nothing but a PR scheme. Reduce violent due to smart card. how about increase robberies by OV-chip system.

By zen | March 1, 2010 6:45 PM

Phasing out paper tickets is not fare to our criminal community.

(See what I did there?)

By Tiger Cub | March 2, 2010 8:50 AM

Any extra profit they make as a result of ripping us off with these cards should be returned to the taxpayer. Thieves !

By jantje | March 2, 2010 11:48 AM

I work for London Underground as a Revenue Control Inspector and I can vouchsafe that those statistics are not really representative. Violence against staff here has remained pretty static even after the Oyster-card smart card was introduced here. Very good p.r.for the OV but not truely indicative of reality. Any statistics can be massaged to reflect what management wants to see!

By Cassununda | March 2, 2010 3:13 PM