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Police warning for railway yobs
Date published: 23 March 2010
POLICE are warning teenagers to stay away from railway lines this Easter.
Trains from Greenfield and Mills Hill travel through Newton Heath and Clayton Vale — traditional school holiday battlegrounds for gangs of yobs — on the way to Manchester Victoria.
Last year, teenagers damaged trains, fought on the railway line and threw missiles at police.
Insp Michelle Wedderburn, of British Transport Police, said: “We do not want a repeat of last year’s trouble. We will be running an operation specifically designed to target those who seek to cause problems.
“Criminal damage and trespass are extremely serious offences as they can not only create delays on the railway, but also have the potential to put lives at risk.
“Those who trespass on the line are risking their own safety as trains travel at high speed and stopping can take a long time. Often, by the time someone on the tracks spots a train it can be too late.
“Similarly, criminal damage can, in the worst cases, result in serious injury.
“Last year, moving trains were struck by bricks. It was only through luck that no-one was hurt.
“If a brick or other solid object strikes a train window, staff and passengers can be showered with broken glass and even hit with the object thrown at the train. Because of the speeds involved this has the potential to cause serious, potentially fatal, injuries.”
In a bid to prevent trouble this year, British Transport Police has joined forces with the local community.
Officers will be increasing patrols in the area to deter troublemakers and will be utilising a variety of techniques, including CCTV, to locate and identify those intent on causing trouble.
Insp Wedderburn added: “We do not take this type of behaviour lightly. We will take a very dim view of anyone caught acting in a criminal or anti-social manner.
“We will not hesitate to take action against anyone caught causing problems for the railway and local community.”
British Transport Police is urging anyone who spots anti-social behaviour on the railway to report it on 0800 40 50 40.
Comments
there is no parental responsibilty people let there kids just go out anywhere and dont bother when they come back in what really annoys me tho is this kids are messing about on the railway if one gets hit by a train it wont be the childs fault no it will be the railway company who gets the blame i think all children under the age of 17 should have curfews or i'm not saying all kids are he same but most are just out to cause trouble and the parents dont seem to care
Have Your Say
Ok a dim view will be taken. Thats ok then. A great deterrent.
No mention of parental responsibility here. They let their kids out to roam and create havoc. Resolving this, along with the will to deal properly with offenders the way forward
By ianc2092 @ 23/03/2010 17:41:04