Southern’s Balham railway station has received a national award for achieving recognised standards in station design, management, security and passenger safety.
 
The station receives this award under the Secure Stations Scheme, managed by the Department for Transport in partnership with the British Transport Police. 
The award was made against strict security criteria including:
• good fencing and boundaries
• good CCTV coverage
• good lighting
• good use of corner mirrors and signage
• a reduction in crime rates at the station
• regular station maintenance audits including removal of graffiti within 24-hours
• availability of staff with conflict management knowledge
• positive results in an independent survey of passengers using the station on how they feel about security at the station.

Southern’s managing director Chris Burchell said: “The safety and security of our passengers is our highest priority and we are very pleased that the work we have completed at Balham has resulted in secure station accreditation for the station.  We now have 28 secure stations and we are currently working to achieve the award at another 22.”
 
Sadiq Khan MP said: “This award is a recognition of the work put in by Southern Trains to make Balham station more safe.  Southern Train’s approach is refreshing and has led to a reduction in crime on their franchised stations.
“By designing out crime and listening to concerns raised by commuters, not only will Balham station be safer but passengers will also feel safer.”
 
Councillor Jane Cooper, Chairman of Wandsworth Council’s Planning and Transportation Overview and Scrutiny Committee said: "I am delighted to congratulate Southern for making Balham a 'secure station’. This builds on the achievements of the council's safer stations programme, in which the Council has worked with the rail authorities to improve the environment around local stations. We all depend on public transport to get around the city - it is vital that people should feel secure both inside and outside their local station and on the train.”
 
British Transport Police Chief Inspector Peter Rowe said: “The awarding of the secure station status at Balham is good news for passengers.  Often one of the issues with dealing with crime on the railways is that for many people there is a perception of crime or fear of crime that must be countered. “Following an extensive review of crime patterns, a renewed focus on managing crime, improvements to the design of the station and feedback from passengers, Balham station has been granted this special status.  It is good to see the train operator Southern has worked with BTP crime reduction officers and other local partners to implement security measures and establish standards of good practice to gain this important accreditation.”