KIDS RECORD PODCASTS TO PROMOTE RAIL SAFETY (July 2008) |
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British Transport Police have joined up with Rock FM’s Cash for Kids charity to promote railway safety to young people in Lancashire and Greater Manchester. Rock FM’s media bus is touring schools in areas where BTP have received reports of route crime incidents, such as youths trespassing and involved in anti-social behaviour on the railway. Pupils at the schools are being asked to create an advert or podcast about the dangers associated with trespassing and committing crimes on the railway. The Rock FM Bus Team will then select the best two groups of each day and their work will be featured on the radio station’s website, alongside photographs and a write up of the day’s activities. Chief Supt Peter Holden, Area Commander of BTP in the North Western Area, said: “During the school holidays we traditionally see an increase in offences on the railway across the UK. We are hoping that by targeting hot spot areas and through education work, we will reduce the number of incidents and deter the majority of youngsters from committing any route crime offences. “I cannot emphasise strongly enough the dangers associated with this type of crime. BTP officers are all too often called to incidents where youngsters are messing about on or near the railway. I am urging all parents and responsible adults to emphasise these dangers and ensure all youngsters keep away from the tracks during the holidays. “People who trespass or commit crime on the railway are putting their own lives at risk as well as the lives of all the staff and passengers traveling on trains.” Clare Chadwick, spokesperson for Cash for Kids said: "Too many children have no idea about the dangers of playing and walking on rail lines. We are proud to be working in conjunction with the British Transport Police to make a positive difference to the attitudes of children who live or go to school near a railway." |
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ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR DRIVEN DOWN IN WEST YORKSHIRE (April 2008)
Anti Social behaviour on key rail networks across West Yorkshire has been driven down thanks to British Transport Police’s Neigbourhood Policing Teams.
Figures released in April 2008 revealed an 18% reduction in anti-social behaviour across key rail routes in the Leeds and Bradford areas.
Incidents of anti-social behaviour in the Bradford neigbourhood policing area, which covers the Airedale/ Wharfdale line (including Shipley and Bradford Forster Square stations), reduced by 42%. From April to Jan 2006, 101 incidents were recorded and in the same time frame in 2007, 59 were recorded, a reduction of 42 offences.Officers have been working closely with Northern Rail security staff and local West Yorkshire NHP teams to achieve these reductions.
Incidents of anti-social behaviour in the Leeds neigbourhood policing area, which covers Leeds City Centre Station and the Crossgates to Micklefield route (including Garforth and East Garforth stations reduced by 10%. From April to Jan 2006 269 incidents were recorded and in the same time frame in 2007, 243 were recorded, a reduction of 26 offences.
Inspector Brian Buddo of the NPT said; “The key to NPT is listening to members of the local community and working with them to develop tailor-made solutions for their local policing needs. Anti social behaviour has been raised as an issue so high on our agenda is reassuring passengers and rail staff by reducing ASB and other low level disorder that contribute to the fear of crime and we hope to drive down the crime figures further.”