Media centre

Friday 12 Nov 2004

A NEW WAY TO REDUCE RAILWAY CRIME

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Representatives from Network Rail travelled to London last week to support the Annual Youth Justice Conference for the first time, with the aim of reducing railway crime. External Liaison Officers, who implement Network Rail’s educational programme, met with various agencies including youth offending teams, magistrates and community groups with the aim of encouraging closer working with young offenders who commit railway crime. Ian Chapman, National External Liaison Manager, said: “Through more proactive working with local youth offending teams and similar community groups, we hope to reach youngsters most at risk of becoming involved in railway crime activities.  “We recognise that it will take time to change the culture of youths involved in this, but by forging closer links in this way we’re optimistic we can make a real difference in our worst route crime hotspots.” Railway crime is more than just ticket fiddling. Each year thousands of objects are placed on the track in front of oncoming trains. Some of these objects are placed there by children ‘to see what happens’ but research has shown there will be a progression to larger objects such as gas canisters, concrete blocks and scaffolding, which have the potential to cause a derailment.  Research has also shown that trespass on the railway is often a pre-cursor to more sinister activity, like throwing objects at trains and it is estimated that railway crime costs the industry over £250 million a year. Alex Pilling, External Liaison Officer (North West), said: “Network Rail’s stand at the conference sparked a great deal of interest, with people keen to know how the company can become more closely involved with local community activities in hotspot areas.  “Network Rail took away a lot of positive feedback from the experience.”