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Colin Nell is the UK's No.1 football freestyle entertainer. See: http://www.colinnell.net He has worked for Nike, Adidas, Coca Cola, Samsung,, Sony Computer Entertainment, Mitre, Goal The Movie, Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire. He is showcasing his work at No Messin’ Live! this summer. See http://www.no-messin.com/events.aspx to find out where he'll be next. Award No Messin’ recently won the prestigious Business in the Community BUPA Healthy Communities Award. The award, which is supported by the Department of Health and known as the 'Big Tick', recognises companies that work with voluntary and public sectors to improve the health and well-being of UK communities. Rail Crime Facts In 2007: There were over 15,000 reported incidents of railway crime in around 3,500 places across Britain – although it is estimated that the true figure is much higher as much goes unreported. There were 225 reported incidents in Leeds alone, with trespass the biggest problem in the area. Over 2,200 objects were placed on tracks across Britain, and Nearly 3,000 missiles were thrown or fired at trains In the last five years there were 256 accidental public fatalities on Britain’s railways (56 in 2007) with one in four of someone aged eight to 18. There was also on average 806 near misses with trains. Half of all near misses involved children. Near misses can happen when people crossing the tracks underestimate the speed of an oncoming train; mistakenly believe a train is stopping at a station or think trains have stopped running at night. Trespass crimes in 2007 range from people taking short cuts, crossing from platform to platforms at stations rather than using footbridges or subways, walking home along the tracks, to more serious incidents of kids playing ‘chicken’ with trains, dodging out of the way at the last second. Such incidents can leave drivers traumatised as they are unable to break in time to avoid hitting those who may not correctly judge the speed of the train. The cost £ Railway crime costs the industry £264 million every year. The Dangers - Did You Know…? - Trains travel at up to 125mph and can take the length of 20 football pitches to stop! If you get hit by a train, there will only be one winner - It takes up to 25,000 volts of electricity to power trains through the 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! - In some places on the network, trains are powered by the ‘third rail’. It carries 750 volts of electricity and is never switched off. Touching the rail will almost certainly result in death or serious injury. The Penalties Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £1,000. A child of eight years or older in Scotland and 10 years or older in England and Wales can be prosecuted by the police. A child of 12 years or older can be sent to a residential care unit. In Scotland, a parent/guardian will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal who will give them a reparation order which may mean that they have to attend a course or take part in community punishment projects. Putting objects on the tracks (like rocks or shopping trolleys) could cause a train accident which may hurt or kill other people. If you do this, then you can be prosecuted by the police. The maximum penalty for causing a train accident is life imprisonment. If a child is charged with causing a train accident, then a parent/guardian may be prosecuted by the police too. Graffiti is also a serious crime which can result in a prison sentence. If you are caught trespassing or vandalising on the railway, then you will be prosecuted by the police.