Southeastern, Network Rail and the British Transport Police have come together with a renewed focus to tackle antisocial behaviour on the railway and improve the safety and security of customers and staff.
The three organisations have signed up to a joint plan, pooling resources to focus on and tackle a rising number of assaults on staff as well as trespass incidents which can cause delays to thousands of passengers.
The train company has also equipped its staff with body worn cameras which provides BTP and Southeastern with additional evidence to prosecute offenders.
Southeastern is committed to reducing anti-social behaviour on the network and has brought in extra security trained staff, complementing the Railway Enforcement Officer team, to specific hotspots– and in doing so, has successfully reduced ticketless travel from nearly seven per cent to under three per cent.
It also makes Southeastern the first train operator in the country to sign an agreement of this kind, as part of its effort to improve safety and security.
The agreement was signed by the three sponsors: Southeastern’s Managing Director Steve White, Network Rail’s Route Director for Kent, David Davidson and British Transport Police Chief Superintendent, Chris Casey.
Steve White, Managing Director, Southeastern Railway said:
“I’m incredibly proud to be the first train operator in the country to have our commitment to safety and security formalised in this agreement, as part of our drive for a better, more reliable and sustainable railway.
“While the vast majority of our customers can and do use our railway safely, there’s a small but growing minority who don’t, and we won’t tolerate any abuse on our network towards our people or our passengers.
“We’ve already got a very positive and close working relationship with Network Rail and the British Transport Police, but this agreement enables us to work more effectively as one team”.
The relationship between the three organisations is based on mutual trust, respect, and a shared determination to make a difference.
The agreement
The agreement sets out the joint plans of Southeastern, Network Rail and the British Transport Police under eight workstreams:
- Workplace Violence (WPV): We will deliver a joint strategy in partnership to reduce the likelihood of WPV incidents whilst safeguarding and supporting every colleague who is a victim or witness. Our measure of success will be the feelings of confidence and safety and security of our people.
- Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): Work collaboratively to tackle levels of ASB to positively influence feelings of confidence of passengers and our colleagues across the network. Our measure of success will be the feelings of confidence and safety and security of our passengers.
- Trespass: All trespass carries a risk to life. We will work collaboratively to reduce incidents of trespass and investigate such offences where the evidence is available and deliver the trespass reduction plan. Our measure of success will be the delivery of a joint trespass reduction strategy.
- Graffiti: Reduce graffiti on trains and infrastructure and minimise the risk of harm to those undertaking such activity. Our measure of success will be a joint tactical delivery plan.
- Safeguarding: Enter a commitment to deliver against a joint strategy which will provide an overarching framework on our safeguarding commitments and attain Safeguarding on Rail accreditation. Our measure of success will be attaining Safeguarding on Rail accreditation.
- Suicide reduction: Work together to reduce the number of people who end their lives on the railway. Our measure of success will be a joint suicide reduction strategy.
- Counter terrorism and critical/major incident preparedness: Work collaboratively sharing information and intelligence to reduce the likelihood of a hostile action and provide a timely and proportionate response to any incident that impacts the network. Our measure of success will be increased multi-agency tabletops and exercises.
- Collaborative resource optimisation: Work together to establish resources and maximise effectiveness. Our measure of success will be the development of a joint tasking data product.
David Davidson, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said:
“I’m delighted to have signed this tripartite agreement alongside our partners Southeastern and the British Transport Police.
“We are committed to running a reliable and punctual railway but also a safe railway for our customers and colleagues alike.
“Through even greater collaboration and sharing of information we are dedicated to really tackling reducing workplace violence, anti-social behaviour, graffiti and trespass, while improving safeguarding and working together to reduce suicide.”
Chief Superintendent Chris Casey, for the British Transport Police, said:
“We’re extremely pleased to have signed this agreement, committing us to work even closer with our partners on our shared mission to ensure a safe and reliable railway.
“We’re dedicated to fostering trust and confidence among passengers and our partners and creating a hostile environment for criminal activities.”
