 VIOLENT crimes at Liverpool Lime Street station have not been caught on CCTV film for more than two years, the ECHO can reveal. In that time nine sex attacks, 25 serious assaults and six robberies have taken place in the main line building. None was recorded, denying police potentially vital evidence in tracking down the culprits. Today rail firms First North Western and Network Rail were criticised for not having cameras installed since renovation work took place at the station. Victims of crime campaigners today branded the lack of cameras "a disgrace". The Rail Passengers Committee and Liverpool MP Louise Ellman are demanding that CCTV is restored. The loss of the cameras is down to the confusing bureaucracy surrounding the running of the main line station. It is owned by Network Rail, formerly Railtrack, who took the CCTV cameras down during renovation work more than two years ago. The running of the station is handled by First North Western, which admits fitting CCTV is its responsibility. It says it planned to put new cameras in, but the delay happened because running of the station is due to be switched . . . to Network Rail. Joan Jonker, who ran the Southportbased Victims of Violence group for more than 20 years, said: "It is a disgrace there are no cameras there. "People need to be safe because there is a relatively lot of crime in city train stations." Mrs Ellman said: "The cameras should be put back immediately." A First North Western spokesperson said: "As part of the transfer of the station's control to Network Rail, the CCTV is now scheduled for completion by Network Rail. A Network Rail spokesman said: "CCTV will be one of our priorities." But Rail Passengers Committee deputy secretary, Richard Fowler, said: "Something has to be done without delay." British Transport police believe CCTV cameras would help catch criminals but say they do have high-visibility officers working in the station. | 
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