John Baron visits worst hotspot for railway crime in East Anglia
24 June 2009
John Baron and Pitsea South East ward Councillor Anne Blake recently visited the Pitsea rail crossing with representatives from Network Rail and discussed community safety issues at Pitsea, including level crossing misuse, trespass and vandalism. According to Network Rail, Pitsea is East Anglia’s worst railway crime ‘hot spot’ with 24 incidents of railway crime reported over the past year, including six incidents which resulted in damage to overhead power cables.
John also lent his support to Network Rail’s No Messin’! campaign which helps combat railway crime and gives kids positive alternatives to messing around on the tracks.
John said:
“The Pitsea crossing is the worst hot spot for railway crime in the entire Anglia region. If young people mess around on the tracks and damage the railway it not only causes significant disruption to journeys but, sooner or later, will inevitably end in tragedy. The railway is not a playground and it is vital that young people understand that.”
“This is why I am very happy to lend my support to Network Rail’s No Messin’! campaign to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of playing on the railway and encourage local children to get involved in other activities.”
Notes
1. The attached photo shows John with Anne-Marie Batson, Network Rail’s community safety manager, and local ward Councillor, Anne Blake at one of the level crossings near Pitsea Station.
2. Other reported incidents at Pitsea include children throwing stones, cans and bricks at trains, trespassing along the trackside and cutting and attempting to steal electrical cables. Cable theft in particular can cause huge delays and disruption to train services and cost Network Rail more than £400,000 in compensation payments to train operator c2c last year.
3. For more information about Network Rail’s No Messin’! campaign and the No Messin’! Live event in Basildon on 5 August, go to http://www.no-messin.com/ . The activities will include computer animation, DJ mixing, boxing, motorcycling, penalty shoot-outs and much more.
