Oyster cards take centre stage in London election

LONDON (Reuters) - The Conservative candidate for London mayor, Boris Johnson, has come up with an innovative way to tackle crime in the capital -- taking away offenders' Oyster cards.

The Tory MP said the move would deter rowdy youths from intimidating other passengers on public transport, but the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said the idea was not new.

Johnson told the BBC: "There are loads of people on buses who are kicking up and frankly intimidating other passengers," Johnson told the BBC.

"We should take away the Oyster cards from the tiny minority who are abusing their privilege. I don't want to sound too draconian or bullying because I think it's a great privilege that people have and they value it."

"If you look at all the evidence about crime, if you can tackle smaller crimes and if you can be deterred from committing a smaller crime it's very unlikely that you will then go on to commit more serious offences."

Livingstone's campaign team said the comments showed that Johnson was "ill-informed" because people can already lose their card if they behave badly on public transport.

It said in a statement: "Free travel cards are already confiscated for anti-social behaviour on buses.

"Anyone cautioned by the police or convicted of a criminal offence loses their card permanently, which is a very effective deterrent, whereas Boris Johnson's proposal would lessen this punishment."

The Oyster card is an electronic device used to pay for train and bus tickets in London.

Johnson , a floppy-haired former editor of the Spectator magazine, is well known for regular appearances on television in programmes like the comedy gameshow "Have I Got News For You" and a love life that has often been tabloid fodder.

Johnson will take on twice-elected Labour incumbent Livingstone and Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick, a former police chief, for the mayoral post on May 1, 2008.