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Friday 17 Apr 2009

YOUNG OFFENDERS CLEAN UP THEIR ACT (AND THE STATION) IN LEEDS

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Three days of cleaning, painting and improving Micklefield station has been completed by a group of young offenders from Leeds Youth Offending Service (YOS) this Easter holiday.

Network Rail works with youth offending teams across the country to educate young people about the dangers of misusing the railway. These young people were brought in to brighten up Micklefield station this week (15 - 17 April) following court appearances for criminal damage.

Visiting the site, Colin Burgon MP said: "I am really pleased at this excellent piece of teamwork between Network Rail and Youth Offending Service. It’s good news that it will have a practical effect in improving the station for residents and passengers.”

James Barton, reparation co-ordinator from Leeds YOS added: “The youngsters worked really hard to improve the station which is a place where many young people hang out. Hopefully the improvements will encourage other youngsters to respect the station environment more."

Warrick Dent, area general manager for Network Rail, said: "The importance of the work that our community safety managers are doing with youth offending services helping develop reparation packages cannot be underestimated. The community benefits from an cleaner and brighter station and we have the opportunity to help young people understand the potential consequences of their actions.

"Every year, dozens of young people are killed or injured misusing the railway and Leeds remains a hot spot for railway crime. We hope that this will be the first of many joint activities with Leeds Youth Offending Service."

Phil Thickett, area operations manager for Northern Rail, said: “Initiatives such as this have proven to discourage crime and anti-social behaviour on the rail network and give the youngsters some sense of the impact their activities have on the community. They have been completely committed to improving the station environment for our customers and the initiative has had a positive impact in helping them to accept responsibility for their behaviour.”