Media centre

Monday 31 Mar 2003

NETWORK RAILS, RAIL CRIME ROADSHOW COMES TO XXXX

Region & Route:

| Southern

 The Network Rail, rail crime road show will be coming to xxx on xxx to warn children of the real dangers of playing on the railways. The trailer, staffed by representatives from Network Rail, BTP and xxx (TOC) will be at xxxxx from xxx until xxx. The visit is part of the industries campaign to tackle rail crime head on. Staff will be on hand to advise the public on the serious dangers of rail crime. Alarmingly, trends of rail crime are on the increase and offenders are getting younger – children as young as five years old have been caught putting objects on the track and eight year olds have been caught playing ‘chicken’ in front of high speed trains. Every single act of rail crime has the potential to cause serious harm or even death and its effects can cause long term damage. Visitors to the rail crime trailer will be able to pick up copies of  xxxxx , xxxx, xx                        Insert local details of crime stats – case study. Anyone who sees somebody trespassing on the railway or doing anything else that they should not, is urged to report it to the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40. The number is open 24 hrs a day and the calls are free. Rail Crime Trailer 2 Margaret Barker, Route Crime Manager said, “The school holidays are a key problem time for rail crime.  We are working hard to tackle this issue but I would appeal to local communities and parents to help us in our efforts. Real success in tackling rail crime will only come about if the entire community works together with the rail industry in a concerted effort to make children understand the very real dangers of risking theirs and others lives by playing on the railways.”