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Railway Crime - The Facts: • Latest figures show over 580 reported incidents of trespass and vandalism in the Thames Valley area over a 12 month period. • Railway crime is a serious and ongoing problem for the rail industry with up to 60 people losing their lives each year by taking short cuts or messing around on the tracks and costing the industry over £264 million a year. • Trains can travel the length of 3 football pitches in just 5 seconds. • Examples of railway crime include trespassing by running across the tracks or taking short cuts, spraying graffiti, throwing objects, placing debris on the line and interfering with level crossing barriers and equipment. • In the last five years one in four accidental fatalities was of someone aged eight to 18. • 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.