It has risen dramatically over the past 12 months
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street 'has questions to answer' about the rise in crime on public transport, according to the region's police chief.
Last month it emerged that overall crime on public transport has risen over the past 12 months.
In the period from April 2017 to March 2018 the total number of crimes on public transport increased by 12 per cent, from 4,688 incidents to 5,249.
This includes a seven per cent rise in crime on public buses , from 2,694 to 2,879, as well as a 19 per cent increase in rail-related crime, up to 2,370 from 1,994.
This is despite the formation of the Safer Travel Partnership in 2017.
Consisting of the British Transport Police, West Midlands police and Transport for West Midlands, the partnership "is committed to creating a Safer Transport Network in the West Midlands", according to its website.
Back in March 2017, Transport for West Midlands was given the power to issue civil injunctions on public transport - essentially banning repeat offenders from using public transport in the region.
However, not a single injunction has been issued since the powers were granted, and Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has called on Mayor Andy Street to do more to help prevent crime on public transport.
"I am concerned that since Transport for West Midlands received the power to ban people who persistently carry out anti-social behaviour, they have failed to issue a single injunction," he said.
"Transport is a function of the Mayor. He clearly has questions to answer on this issue."
The Mayor's office has been contacted for comment.
I suspect David Jamieson has more questions to answer than Andy Street?
