Media centre

Monday 10 Apr 2006

NO MESSIN’! ACTIVITIES COMES TO SALFORD

Region & Route:

Young people in Salford are being given the opportunity to “taste” a variety of activities during the Easter holidays thanks to Network Rail. The day is part of Network Rail’s No Messin’! campaign, which aims to reduce railway crime by offering young people a positive alternative to playing on the railway. Diversionary activities are organised in ‘hot-spot’ areas during school holidays and after school when the number of incidents are at their highest. Jo Kaye, Area General Manager said: “The No Messin’! campaign is about urging young people to understand the potentially fatal dangers of railway crime, stay away from the track and stay safe.” Network Rail is sponsoring an activities day on Clifton Green in Salford on Tuesday, April 18 and young people will be able to try a range of activities including a climbing wall, bungee run, DJ-ing and other music activities. The event is completely free and young people can take part between 10am and 4pm. The activity day has been organised by Groundwork with help from Swinton families. Further DJ-ing workshops will be held on April 11 and April 12 at Swinton High School. These activities have been organised in conjunction with Greater Manchester Music Action Zone (GMMAZ). Clifton has historically suffered from one of the highest levels of railway crime in the Salford area with incidents including child trespass, trains being bricked and vandalism at the station. Last year Network Rail supported young people in the area by sponsoring the local angling group for equipment and a programme of school visits was also undertaken. Railway crime is an ongoing problem for the rail industry. Both trespass and vandalism trends show a strong seasonal cycle with a peak between March and September – when the evenings get lighter and young people are not in school. A high proportion of rail trespass incidents involve young people between the ages of 10 and 16. Approximately 60 people a year are killed on the railway because they are trespassing and many more are left with horrific burns, scars or lost limbs. During peak periods between 4pm-8pm in daylight hours a crime is committed every four and a half minutes on the railway. One in three children also admits to trespassing or vandalising the railway.