NO MESSIN’! AT THE HUMBER BRIDGE

Thursday 6 Jul 2006

NO MESSIN’! AT THE HUMBER BRIDGE

Region & Route:

Network Rail’s No Messin’! campaign is bringing a number of free activities for young people to the Hull area on the weekend of 15 and 16 July. The Humber Bridge Bash is being held to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Bridge, and the No Messin’! team will be there on Saturday and Sunday to add to the festivities. Activities will include Hull City ‘Football in the Community’ penalty shoot outs and the chance to learn from the British Wrestling Association. The British Wrestling Association will also be sending out the No Messin’! message at Cottingham Fun day on Saturday 15 July. No Messin’! was launched by Network Rail in March 2005 to offer healthy alternatives to young people who might otherwise be tempted to trespass on the railway. Further information can be found at www.no-messin.com. Neil Henry, Area General Manager for Network Rail said: “The young people who play on the railway do so because they think they’ve got nothing else to do. Network Rail is committed to preventing pointless tragedies. No Messin’ Live! aims to show young people, that there is a range of activities available to them, like sport, gaming and music, which – unlike playing on the railway – don’t involve the risk of injury, disfigurement and death.” A dedicated No Messin’! Live event held in Hull last year attracted more than 5,000 young people. In 2005, almost 50 people were killed and hundreds more were injured on the railway either crossing the tracks, taking short cuts, messing around or playing chicken.

Notes to editors

A research study conducted on behalf of the industry in 1998 established that: · The prime perpetrators of railway crime with potential to cause harm, are 8-14 year old males · The prime time for criminal activity by this age group is in the spring right through until the autumn. · Over 30% of school pupils interviewed admitted to being involved in one or more acts of railway crime · 20% said they had taken short cuts across or along a railway line · 10% said they had thrown things on a railway line · 8% had placed objects on the line or thrown things at passing trains Of the reasons given for such dangerous activities: · 32% said "Nothing else to do" · 22% said "My friend wanted me to do it" · 18% said "It was exciting" A research study conducted in 2001 concluded that there are an estimated 10 million offences of criminal trespass on the railways committed annually by children. Of those, 1.3 million are classed as current and repeat offenders For more details about the Bridge Bash see http://www.bridgebash.co.uk Cottingham Fun day will be held from 10am to 5pm in the Market Green, Cottingham, HU16 5QE

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