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Thursday 15 Jul 2010

HUNDREDS OF RAIL CRIMES COMMITTED BY YOUNG PEOPLE IN EAST MIDLANDS AND LINCOLSHIRE

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Young lives are being put at risk every week by criminal behaviour new figures released by Network Rail reveal.  There were around 200 recorded incidents of trespass and vandalism in the east midlands and Lincolnshire in the past year* involving young people taking short cuts, spraying graffiti, playing chicken with trains or placing objects on the tracks. All put their lives – and in some cases the lives of others – at risk. The true figure is expected to be much higher with many incidents going unreported.

As the summer holidays begin, Network Rail is encouraging young people to take up more positive activities and not put themselves at risk of serious injury or worse, by taking unnecessary risks on the tracks. Its No Messin’ campaign, which works with local community groups and clubs across Britain, is fronted by world boxing champion Amir Khan.

Amir Khan spoke of his continued support for the No Messin’ campaign: “Young people need to know that playing chicken or throwing stones at trains won’t get you respect or win you real friends. Working with Network Rail in community clubs I’ve seen how young people can get a real kick out of learning something new like boxing or other sports and how positive encouragement can steer them off the tracks and onto a better path.”

The most shocking examples in the East Midlands include:

-          70 incidents of stone throwing

-          12 instances of bricks being thrown at trains or placed on the tracks including one instance where a brick was dangled from a bridge ready to hit an oncoming train

-          4 reports of youths playing chicken with oncoming trains

Many items have been placed on the tracks– many causing costly damage to trains and delays to services.  They include:

-          8 bicycles

-          4 shopping trolleys

-          3 rubbish bins

Leighton Walford, from Hampshire, is supporting No Messin’ after his girlfriend died when she touched the electrified rail as they took a short cut across the tracks.  He said: “Many people think this will never happen to them but it can, it happened to us.  I know how badly taking a short cut along the tracks can end, it resulted in a very special person losing her life and I’ll regret it for the rest of mine. I hope that by telling my story, I can prevent others from risking their life and the lives of others.”

Nationally, a shocking 49 people died after trespassing on the tracks in the last year; with a quarter of trespass fatalities young people aged 11-20. Whilst adults commit more crimes, young people take more risks and their actions are more dangerous – such as playing chicken and graffiti spraying in hard to reach locations. Adult crimes tend to be more platform-to-platform trespass and taking short cuts.

Whilst these figures are alarming, the No Messin’ campaign, now in it’s fifth year, is seeing some success with a 32% reduction in reported crimes by young people.*

Mark Tarry, area general manager for Network Rail, said: “It’s good to see the number of incidents involving young people coming down, but far too many continue to risk their lives by taking a misguided short cut or worse, deliberately messing around on the tracks. Unlike cars, trains cannot swerve and can take the length of 20 football pitches to stop. Contact with electricity power lines and tracks can result in horrific injuries, burns or even death. We want to prevent such incidents and help young people find more rewarding and exciting ways to spend their free time.”

British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “BTP officers continue to work closely with Network Rail and train operating companies across the country to educate young people about the dangers of going near the railway line.

“Our message is simple: the railway is not a playground – stay safe and stay out of trouble. Every year we see people risking their lives either by careless actions, such as taking a shortcut across the tracks or by playing on or near the line. Anyone who messes around near the tracks is not only risking a court appearance, they are putting their lives at risk.”