Taipei MRT Police Overwhelmed by Passenger Volume, Chief Admits Staffing 'Absolutely Not Enough'

Taipei's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) police force is facing a significant staffing shortage, struggling to ensure safety and provide services for an average of 2.27 million daily passengers. As of July, the unit comprises only 209 officers, a number deemed insufficient by both city council members and the police chief.

Councilwoman Geng Wei highlighted the issue during a legislative session, pointing out the stark disparity between the passenger volume and the police presence. She noted that from January to July alone, the MRT police handled 4,125 cases. The most frequent incidents involved assisting the public, such as locating lost elderly individuals and children (858 cases), followed by disputes (811 cases) and handling lost property (566 cases).

Police Commissioner Lin Yan-tian acknowledged the critical staffing shortage, stating that current manpower is "absolutely not enough." He confirmed that plans are underway for a phased expansion of the MRT police force, considering the ongoing development of the MRT network and projected increases in passenger numbers.

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Current manpower is absolutely not enough.

The expansion is planned in three stages. The first phase, by 2028, aims to add 10 to 20 officers to cope with the extension of the Xinyi Line and increased ridership. The second phase will significantly boost numbers by 80 to 110 officers as new lines like the Wanda-Zhonghe-Shulin Line and the Circular Line open. The third phase will see a further addition of 50 to 80 officers as potential future routes are completed.

Despite the limited resources, the MRT police, along with MRT staff and security personnel, work to manage incidents ranging from minor assistance requests to more serious security concerns. The police department continues to seek additional personnel from the National Police Agency to bolster its capacity.

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Every case consumes MRT police manpower!