Media centre

Tuesday 15 Mar 2005

“NO MESSIN’ ON OUR RAILWAY” SAYS NETWORK RAIL

Region & Route:

| Southern

As part of National Railway Crime Week 2005 (14-20 March), Network Rail today reveals the top 10 worst areas for vandalism and trespass on the railway in East Anglia.  The week also sees the launch of a new rail safety campaign, “No Messin!”, the rail industry’s latest effort towards combating railway crime. Over 1,200 reported incidents of railway crime took place in East Anglia last year, including 794 incidents of trespass and 432 incidents of vandalism.  Enfield Lock was the single worst location for railway crime in the region, with 26 incidents recorded in 2004.  Essex was the county most affected by railway crime, with a total of 475 reported incidents last year. The most common offenders are young people aged 8-16 years and most of them are male. Jon Wiseman, Network Rail Route Director, said: “Last year in the UK, 34 people died on railway tracks - that’s 34 too many. Each one represents a tragic story of ignoring all the warnings that the railway is not a place to hang around, use as a short-cut or to play on.    The school holidays are a peak time for these incidents so we need to hammer home the railway safety message to prevent further tragedies.” This year, Network Rail has teamed up with the British Wrestling Association (BWA) in a new rail safety campaign, No Messin’, which moves away from the traditional use of ‘shock tactics’ and instead encourages young people to focus on sport and ‘healthy’ activities, rather than playing on railway tracks.  The safety campaign is designed to fit in with today’s popular culture, in an attempt to reach the more elusive young people that can often be found hanging around the railway. Jon Wiseman continued: “As the infrastructure owner, we have a responsibility to spread the message that the railway can be a dangerous place.  You wouldn’t try to use a motorway as a short cut or a place to hang out - so why the railway?  Our message is clear: No Messin’.” A team of qualified coaches from the British Wrestling Association are touring the country, offering wrestling sessions to young people in peak railway crime areas and helping to spread the No Messin’ message.  Existing railway safety programmes will also continue, including school visits, after-school clubs, football coaching and safety awareness days. No Messin’ posters will soon be going up at railway stations around the UK and a website has also been launched - www.no-messin.co.uk - offering information, entertainment and competitions, kicking off with the chance to win an iPod mini.