NEWCASTLE: Drunken yobs strike fear into train users

Drunken yobs strike fear into train users

A COUPLE from Stocksfield are calling for a greater police presence on the Tyne Valley railway line after an incident which they say left staff and passengers vulnerable.

During a journey home from Newcastle on the evening of Saturday, September 22, Peter and Christine Armstrong were intimidated by a group of drunken men, whose behaviour they describe as loud and unpleasant.

Two individuals from the group then went on to indecently expose themselves on the train, which was packed with passengers.

The couple, who live on Mount View Terrace, say the guard on the service was alerted and told them he’d contacted police with the hope that officers would board the train at Prudhoe. However none did.

In a letter to the Courant Mr and Mrs Armstrong said: “We are concerned that the absence of police attendance appears to suggest that anti-social behaviour is acceptable on public transport, and leaves passengers and railway workers vulnerable.

“We understand from a conversation with the guard that such drunken behaviour is common on the last train, and that active police response to railway workers’ requests for attendance is rare.

“We find this disappointing and would ask that more regular police monitoring of the situation be undertaken.”

Stocksfield Parish Councillor and chairman of the Tyne Valley Rail Users group, Malcolm Chainey, said: “Fundamentally we would all, as passengers, be truly alarmed at this kind of behaviour and it would no doubt discourage us from using trains.

“The rail users group have campaigned a lot on passenger safety and share the concerns of those, particularly women, who don’t feel safe.

“It’s an issue that needs to be addressed by the industry as a whole and all of the separate organisations need to pull together to sort problems like this out.”

In January last year, an initiative to combat anti-social behaviour on trains in the area, was launched by the British Transport Police and Northumberland County Council, with the full support of operator Northern Rail.

Under the plans, the council’s community wardens began joint patrols with BTP officers to act as a visible deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour on trains and around local stations.

A spokesman for Northern Rail said: “We’d like to apologise to Mr and Mrs Armstrong for this unpleasant incident, which we take very seriously.

“We work closely with industry colleagues including the British Transport Police to tackle anti-social behaviour on the rail network.

“This includes employing a range of measures on this particular service such as high visibility police patrols and Northern’s rail security teams.

“The conductor requested British Transport Police to meet the train. However, unfortunately on this occasion they were attending other incidents.”

Inspector Iain McLaren of the British Transport Police said: “British Transport Police adopts a zero tolerance approach to anti social behaviour.

“BTP has dedicated teams of officers who patrol this route on a regular basis providing high visibility policing.

“Officers had been travelling on this service for six consecutive Saturdays prior to the incident and had eradicated anti-social behaviour and had been hugely successful in reassuring passengers and staff alike.

“I empathise fully with the passengers on this train who were subjected to this unacceptable behaviour.

“BTP has a positive arrest policy and our officers will continue to intervene and target this type of behaviour when it occurs where possible.

“We want the millions of passengers who depend upon the network to feel safe, as well as be safe when they are travelling, and I would urge passengers and staff to support our officers by reporting anti-social behaviour when they witness it rather than suffering in silence.

“The incident was reported to police. However it is very unfortunate that officers were dealing with another crime at the time and were therefore unable to attend.”

BTP are urging anyone with information or descriptions of those involved in the incident, which took place on the 9.06pm Newcastle to Carlisle train on September 22, to assist them with their enquiries on 01132 479 147.

http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=552400