FELTHAM KIDS EVENT TO TACKLE RAILWAY CRIME

Thursday 16 Aug 2007

FELTHAM KIDS EVENT TO TACKLE RAILWAY CRIME

Region & Route:: | Southern

Skate ramps, surf machines, a climbing wall, DJ lessons, motorcycling, and bungee running are just some of the free activities on offer to 100s of young people in Feltham as part of Network Rail's No Messin' Live! summer campaign, which comes to Feltham Community College on August 30 & 31.

Feltham has historically always been in the top ten route crime hotspots on the Wessex route, taking the unfortunate number one spot between 2001 and 2005.

Network Rail's No Messin'! campaign aims to raise awareness of railway safety amongst young people by giving them ideas about positive ways to spend their time, rather than play on the railway. The event is free for all young people aged between 9-16 years old. The Feltham regional event follows the successful national launch in London last month by Champion boxer Amir Khan, who supports the campaign. Ian Chapman, Head of Rail Crime Education at Network Rail said: "Lots of young people use the railway as a playground because they think they've nothing else to do. No Messin' Live! aims to get kids interested in different activities and encourages them to try something new. By doing so, we hope to make them think twice about playing on the railway, and avoid potentially life threatening situations." Says Amir Khan: "There's no excuse for mucking about on train tracks. You may think you're clever and fast but a train is quicker and what's clever about getting yourself killed? No Messin' Live! is a great way of finding a better way to spend your time, whether it's trying out new sports, like boxing, or skills such as mixing and having a laugh with your mates too." The No Messin' campaign isn't just for the holidays. Network Rail has a team of dedicated Railway Crime Education Managers working closely with other parts of the railway industry, offering railway safety information and visiting schools, young offending teams, youth clubs and local authorities throughout the UK.

Notes to editors

Date: 30-31 August 2007 Time 11am- 4pm Venue: Feltham Community College, Browell’s Lane, Feltham, Middx. DID YOU KNOW?... - In the last year, there was on average a recorded incident of trespass and vandalism every 11 days in the Feltham area. However, we can't record all of them and estimate it's a lot higher. • Half (51%) of recorded incidents include throwing missiles including a youth who threw stones at a railway worker and a brick thrown at a train • One in four (25%) of incidents involve trespass • Other incidents involve vandalising fencing or level crossings and placing obstructions on the line. • Up to 60 people are killed on the railway each year by taking short cuts or messing around on the tracks! • Trains travel at up to 125mph and can take the length of 20 football pitches to stop! • It takes up to 25,000 volts of electricity to power trains through the rails and 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! www.no-messin.com

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