British Transport Police (BTP) and Network Rail are urging adults to talk to youngsters about the dangers of railway trespass, amid fears that misbehaviour will surge while schools are closed to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Ordinarily, youth trespass spikes from April to August. Those five months – which include the Easter, Whitsun and summer school holidays – accounted for 59% of the 8,479 youth trespass incidents recorded across Great Britain in the last two financial years.
There was an 18% reduction in 2018-19 but that improvement could be reversed, now that school is suspended for up to six months while young persons' usual entertainment and social venues are closed.
Bill Kelly, director of Network Rail’sWales and Borders Route, said: ‘The Easter holidays are the start of the peak for railway trespass and with schools now closed for an extended period, I am concerned that the railway will become the default play area for some younger people.’
Railway trespass resulted in tragedies and life-changing injuries each year, he said.‘I would strongly urge adults to talk to their children and younger relatives about the dangers of trespassing on the railway.’
With football matches cancelled and pubs closed, BTP has leeway to redirect resources.
A spokesperson told Transport Network: ‘We have detailed plans to respond to this ever-evolving situation and to make sure that we can continue to deliver our core policing functions. These plans include moving officers around the country, scaling back non-urgent areas of policing and cancelling rest days and leave.’
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