Railway Anti-Social Behavior Campaign Intensifies

Officers from rail enforcement and the British Transport Police are scheduled to be present at Brighton station in East Sussex this Friday. This presence is part of a continuous initiative aimed at curbing anti-social conduct on railway services. Govia Thameslink, the operator of services connecting Surrey, Sussex, Kent, and London, declared in June its commitment to invest £2.5 million to address this problem. Furthermore, the company appointed its inaugural school engagement manager in September. Ross Evans, a resident of Worthing, West Sussex, previously served as a rail enforcement officer on Southern and Thameslink trains, a role he held since 2020. Mr Evans informed BBC Radio Sussex that, “We’ve seen a 23% increase in verbal assaults to members of staff, and a 10% increase in physical ones, according to British Transport Police.” He elaborated, stating: “My role is now to educate and engage young people in how to engage safely on the railway.” He added, “We’ve been engaging with a lot of schools and football academies. “It’s teaching people to be more aware of the railway and why we have all these safety measures in place.” During Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week, GTR’s rail enforcement officers collaborated with the British Transport Police to discuss anti-social behavior with passengers and instruct them on reporting incidents via the correct procedures. A spokesperson for GTR commented: “The activity forms part of the train operator’s new £2.5 million Antisocial Behaviour Improvement Plan, which aims to reduce abuse and disorder.” Mr Evans stated: “In the last three months I’ve been able to engage with about 4,000 kids in Sussex. “We’re just trying to get the message out there.” BBC Sussex can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas may be sent to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or by WhatsApp at 08081 002250. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Details concerning our approach to external linking are available.