Media centre

Monday 21 Mar 2005

NO MESSIN’ ON THE RAILWAY

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Manchester City player and Republic of Ireland international, Richard Dunne, supported the launch of a safety campaign that’s warning children across the country about the dangers of playing on and near the railway. The launch took place at Manchester City Training Ground in Carrington, and children from St Brigid’s RC primary school in Gorton, who are participating in the City in the Community soccer schools, watched a training session with the players and met Richard. The City in the Community programme organises community activities and sports events for local youths. Network Rail’s External Liaison Officer, Alex Pilling, was also present to provide the children with some important railway safety information and new ‘No Messin’ equipment. She said: “We are extremely proud to be working in partnership with Manchester City Football Club and are confident Richard Dunne will help us to reinforce the message of the dangers of playing on or near the railway.” Details on local sporting events and competitions aimed at educating youths on railway safety, along with exciting chances to win an i-Pod, will soon be available on www.no-messin.com. Richard Dunne said: “I am very happy to be supporting the launch of Network Rail’s ‘No Messin’ campaign as every year children are killed and badly hurt on the railways.  “It’s important we do everything we can to get the message across that railway tracks are such dangerous places to mess about.” These are just some of the new educational initiatives that Network Rail has set up in an attempt to further reduce railway crime committed by youngsters by offering them an alternative to playing on the railways. The ’No Messin’ campaign will complement the educational work already being carried out in schools and youth groups by Network Rail External Liaison Officers and the Football in the Community scheme, where the company works closely with football clubs in areas that are hotspots for railway crime, with top coaches spelling out the serious consequences of playing on the railways. MCFC have been working with Network Rail for the last two years to help combat railway crime in the East Manchester area, which has traditionally been a hotspot. As a result of this activity, combined with Network Rail’s educational programme in schools and fencing programme, reported incidents of railway crime have decreased by 17% over this period.  Every year hundreds of children are injured and killed playing on the railway. For those who survive, many are left with horrific burns or scars after they are electrocuted and some lose limbs after being hit by trains. Vandalism on the railway, which is mainly committed by children and young people, costs the rail industry £264 million each year. Thousands of objects are placed on the track in front of trains each year. Some of these objects are placed there by children ‘just to see what happens’ but research has shown they often move on to using larger objects such as gas canisters, concrete blocks, scaffolding, rubbish bins and even stolen vehicles. Network Rail will again be sponsoring City in the Community so they can continue their work in the community this year with summer schools, to help keep children away from railway lines.