Media centre

Wednesday 11 Jun 2003

BID TO CUT RAIL CRIME IN CARDIFF

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Cut crime on the railways – that is the message being given on posters sited at Cardiff Central Station as part of a campaign by Network Rail and partners of the National Route Crime Group to draw attention to railway crime.             The posters are among a series of measures being taken to tie in with National Railway Crime Week, which runs from June 15 to 22. On Monday June 16, to promote the campaign, Wales Rail Passengers’ Council secretary Clive Williams will be at the station with representatives of Network Rail, Wales and Borders Trains, and British Transport Police. Coaching staff from Cardiff City Football Club will also being present – Network Rail is due to link up with the club to help delivery the anti-railway crime message during school coaching sessions. Bristol and Cardiff are the areas worst affected by railway crime in the region and National Railway Crime Week is aimed at drawing attention to the human and financial cost. There will also be a poster campaign at Bristol Temple Meads Station. Adverts warning of the dangers of railway crime will be running on radio station Vibe FM, which also broadcasts in Avon and South Wales. Also, as part of the week of activities, the ‘eye-in-the-sky’ helicopter will be at the 999 Lifeskills event on June 18 in the West of England showground at Shepton Mallet. Although stationary, the helicopter will enable children to see how Network Rail tries to crack down on railway crime. Network Rail staff will run an information stand and give out leaflets to visitors. -more- Railway crime - 2 Other measures, which happen throughout the year, include: ·        A link up with Bristol Rovers FC, where the community team delivers an anti-railway crime message when they visit schools for coaching sessions ·        A scheme with Glamorgan County Cricket Club, where cricket coaching for youngsters is linked to an anti-railway crime message ·        Operation Skyhawk – the helicopter, which regularly patrols the skies above the Great Western region looking for offenders ·        On-going programme to fence off sections of track ·        Use of CCTV at crime hot spots Paul Denton, Network Rail’s route crime manager, said: “Action is being taken throughout the year to tackle the problem of railway crime, the majority of which is perpetrated by young people. By holding a second annual National Railway Crime Week we get the chance to highlight this problem and ask members of the public to help us combat it – either by reporting incidents to the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or by thinking twice before they do something themselves, such as trespassing on the track.” National measures being taken include leaflets being sent out to every primary and secondary school asking them to reinforce the railway safety message to children. -more- Railway crime - 3 PHOTOCALL WHEN:                       Monday June 16 TIME:                           14.00 WHERE                      Cardiff Central Station WHAT: Wales RPC secretary Clive Williams, Network Rail route crime manager Paul Denton, and representatives from Wales and Borders Trains and the British Transport Police, and coaching staff from Cardiff City Football Club will be promoting the poster campaign which has been launched as part of National Railway Crime Week