Thursday 7 May 2009
CORBY YOUNGSTERS GIVE RAILWAY CRIME A KNOCKOUT PUNCH
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Network Rail and the Educational Sports Forum (ESF) last night joined ranks in the fight against railway crime at the opening of the newly refurbished Corby Olympic Amateur Boxing Club. The partnership between Network Rail’s No Messin’ campaign and ESF’s Box 4 Skills aims to encourage Corby youngsters to stay away from the railway, give them access to educational support and provide them with the opportunity to try their hand at positive and exciting activities such as boxing.
Professional boxer Troy James, trained by ex-champion Barry McGuigan, helped punch home the rail safety message. Network Rail’s Eye in the Sky helicopter also flew in to demonstrate just how Network Rail use the chopper to patrol hotspot areas on the railway to deter children from playing on the tracks.
The gym on Saxilby Close, which has been at the heart of the community for 30 years, had been earmarked for closure until the Educational Sports Forum worked with Corby Borough Council to give it a major overhaul. As part of the refurbishment a new learning centre featuring laptops with internet access was fitted out, offering young members of the gym a place to work on their academic skills when not training or working out. Network Rail is supporting education in the local community through the sponsorship of a project worker who will work in the new learning centre to guide and mentor the young people who use it.
Richard Pedley, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: “Corby is a real hotspot for railway crime, but rather than lecture kids we find it’s far better to give them the chance to get involved in positive activities which will keep them out of trouble. Funding a support worker to help young boxers with their school work, with job applications or with college or university projects will make a genuine difference in the community as well as help reduce trespass and vandalism on the railway in Corby.”
Pro-boxer Troy James, who is also studying for a university degree, said: “Education is really important for young boxers and you always need to think about your life after boxing. Having the education suite at gym is really good news because it means young boxers can train their bodies and their minds in one place.”
Chris Mallender, chief executive of Corby Borough Council, said: “Whether you’re a top-class athlete or a keen amateur, boxing can be a very transient career and you never know what’s around the corner. This gym encourages kids to have pride in all areas of their life and the new education suite might be the difference for these youngsters and help them stay on the right track.”
The celebratory partnership event follows the opening of Corby railway station last week. Corby is one of the worst areas in the East Midlands for railway crime with 20 recorded incidents in 2008. The most shocking incidents range from dropping breeze blocks onto oncoming trains to trespassing and placing objects on the railway line obstructing trains.
With new passenger services commencing for the first time in over 20 years at Corby, Network Rail, through the No Messin’ campaign which is fronted by boxing champion Amir Khan, is working hard at developing vital relationships with the community to help raise awareness of these issues and reduce railway crime.
Notes to editors
The award winning No Messin' campaign which is fronted by boxing champion Amir Khan and run by Network Rail, is aimed at tackling crime and saving lives on the railway. It gives young people the opportunity to try something different and maybe find a new interest - away from messing around on or near railway lines. Taking short cuts, playing alongside the tracks, throwing objects at trains, placing obstructions on the line, and spraying graffiti on railway bridges, fencing and buildings, were all crimes committed by young people in 2008. The most shocking instances include: - Dropping breeze blocks, televisions and bicycles from bridges to hit trains passing below - Throwing golf balls and stones at trains - Placing a blazing sofa and shopping trolleys as obstructions on the line Despite these disturbing incidents, the No Messin’ campaign, now in its fourth year is seeing some significant successes. Overall, reported trespass and vandalism crimes are down around 13% on 2007, and in the 100 locations specifically targeted by Network Rail in the past year, crime is down 30%. The cost £ Railway crime costs the industry £264m every year The Dangers - Did You Know…? Trains travel at up to 125mph and can take the length of 20 football pitches to stop. If you get hit by a train, there will only be one loser It takes up to 25,000 volts of electricity to power trains through the overhead lines. It’s always switched on and can even jump through the air to get to you. If you get too close it can kill – you don’t even have to touch anything to get killed In some places on the network, trains are powered by the third rail. It carries 750 volts of electricity and is never switched off. Touching the rail will almost certainly result in death or serious injury. The Penalties Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £1,000. A child of eight years or older in Scotland and 10 years or older in England and Wales can be prosecuted. A child of 12 years or older can be sent to a residential care unit. In Scotland, a parent/guardian will be sent to the procurator fiscal who will give them a reparation order which may mean that they have to attend a course or take part in community punishment projects. Putting objects on the tracks (like rocks or shopping trolleys) could cause a train accident which may hurt or kill other people. If you do this, then you can be prosecuted by the police. The maximum penalty for causing a train accident is life imprisonment. If a child is charged with causing a train accident, then a parent/guardian may be prosecuted by the police too. Graffiti is also a serious crime which can result in a prison sentence. If you are caught trespassing or vandalising on the railway, then you will be prosecuted.
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