• Railway Crime

    Trespass & vandalism on the railway are real crimes

  • It is estimated there are more than 28 million incidents of trespass on the railway every year and 11 million of them are committed by the under 16s. Sixty people are killed and many more are horribly injured every year (on average).

    The results are heart-breaking. Parents never see their children again. Some children suffer injuries that they have live with for the rest of their lives. Other children watch their friends being killed or badly hurt. Railway and emergency workers suffer too. Some train drivers are so upset by accidents that they have to give up work. And police officer & ambulance crews find dealing with the victims & their families almost unbearable.

    What is trespassing on the railway?
    What is vandalism on the railway?
    Who commits trespass & vandalism?
    Penalties for trespass & vandalism
    Working with the community to protect young people
    What to do if you know about trespass or vandalism
    Websites for Young People
    Websites for Parents & Teachers      

    What is trespassing on the railway?

    Only certain parts of the railway are open to members of the public. Of course, you can go on the stations, platforms & safe crossing places – underpasses, public bridges, level crossings & public foot crossings.

    But you will be trespassing if you go on to the railway tracks, the embankments or any other area. – for any reason at any time. The only exception is if you are told to go on the tracks by railway staff or the emergency services (for example – if your train breaks down & you need to walk along the tracks to the nearest station).

    You are trespassing on the railway and putting your life in danger if you:

    • Take a short cut across the train tracks
    • Jump off the platform to pick up your newspaper or a dropped shoe
    • Chase after your cat or dog when they go on the tracks.

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    What is vandalism on the railway?

    Vandalism is when someone deliberately damages railway property. Common types of vandalism on the railway include graffiti, litter, flytipping and breaking & damaging railway property (such as fences, bridges, signs & tracks).

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    Who commits trespass & vandalism?

    Much of the trespassing & vandalism is done by 8 – 16 year old boys. Why do they do it? It can be because they are bored or their friends encourage them to do it. Railway stations and areas near tracks are often used by children as places to hang-out especially after school and during the holidays.

    The other big group of trespassers are adults who use the railway as a shortcut.

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    Penalties for trespass & vandalism

    Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £1,000. A child of 8 years or older in Scotland and 10 years or older in England & Wales can be prosecuted by the police. A child of 12 years or older can be sent to a residential care unit. In Scotland, you will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal who will give you a reparation order which may mean that you have to attend a course or have to take part in community punishment projects.

    Putting objects on the tracks (like rocks or shopping trolleys) could cause a train accident which may hurt or kill other people. If you do this, then you can be prosecuted by the police. The maximum penalty for causing a train accident is life imprisonment. If your child is charged with causing a train accident, then you may be prosecuted by the police too.

    Graffiti is also a serious crime which can result in a prison sentence.

    If you are caught trespassing or vandalising on the railway, then you will be prosecuted by the police.

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    Working with the community to protect young people

    Network Rail works hard to tell young people about the dangers of trespass & vandalism:

    • No Messin’! website for young people
    • Trackoff website for teachers & parents
    • School visits by Network Rail’s Railway Crime Education Managers who talk to young people about the dangers on the railway
    • Donate money & provide speakers to child safety events run by the Child Safety Centres, the Crucial Crew and Junior Citizen across the country
    • Run diversionary activities for young people so that they have other things to do – including No Messin Live! which is a series of Network Rail events
    • Support diversionary activities provided by other groups – including the British Wrestling Association, Scottish Rugby and Football in the Community
    • Distribute posters, hotline cards & leaflet drops at places with lots of trespassing & vandalism.

    If you would like to get involved, please send an email to Network Rail at contact@no-messin.com.

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    What to do if you know about trespass or vandalism

    If you see someone on the railway tracks, please call the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or the Police on 999.

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    Websites for Young People

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    Websites for Parents & Teachers

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  • No Messin'!

    2829_NoMessin'Live

    'No Messin'!' is a safety initiative aimed at keeping kids off the tracks.

    Children, some as young as five years old, have been found playing on the tracks. Every year, some of them are killed.

    Trains can’t stop quickly

    Trains can travel at 125 mph and take the length of 20 football pitches to stop - if you are in the way the train won’t stop.

    The driver will not see you until it is too late!

    Tracks are dangerous places

    Up to 60 people are killed on the railway every year - by crossing the tracks, taking short cuts, messing around or playing chicken.

    Trains can drag you under their wheels

    Trains produce enormous amounts of wind turbulence. This wind is so powerful that it can drag somebody standing next to the tracks under the wheels of the train.

    The electricity is never switched off

    Electricity powers the trains and it is never switched off – not even on Christmas Day.

    Electricity on overhead power lines can jump and arc

    You do not have to touch the overhead electricity lines to get electrocuted.

    If you fly kites or dangle things from bridges near the overhead power lines, the electricity can arc like lightning or jump up to 3 metres (9 feet).

    The “third rail” is really an electricity line

    The “third rail” looks like a normal railway line but is really a power line. The electricity is so strong that if you touch the rail, you will stick to it like glue and never get up again.

    If you step on the “third rail”, it will kill you.

    Trespassing & vandalism waste your money – and your life

    Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence which carries a fine. If children under ten are caught trespassing, then their parents or guardians may have to pay the fine.

    The maximum fine is £1,000.
    The maximum penalty is death.