News
POLICE COMMENDATION FOR NORTHERN RAIL’S COMMUNITY SAFETY MANAGER
8th September 2010
Northern Rail’s Community Safety Manager, David Wilkinson, has received a British Transport Police Area Commander’s Certificate of Commendation at the annual ceremony in Manchester.
David, from Stockport, received the Commendation – awarded to police officers, railway staff and members of the public who have shown special zeal, skill and resourcefulness in the detection of crime – for his efforts to tackle youth related anti-social behaviour on the railway.
Working in partnership with British Transport Police and Knutsford High School David introduced a scheme to resolve issues around school children behaving in an unruly manner and not having valid tickets on trains in and out of Knutsford.
The initiative involves a red and yellow card scheme whereby any pupils behaving badly or travelling without valid tickets are issued with a yellow card as a warning. The school then steps in and implements their disciplinary procedures.
If the same pupil reoffends within the same term they are given a red card and referred to officers from the local BTP Neighbourhood Action Team for further action to be taken.
The scheme has also seen the introduction of pupils who act as train monitors. The monitors are given travel passes by Northern and in return monitor the behaviour of their peers and report any issues to their teachers.
The monitors are also there to benefit the pupils. While they feed back any information they have about issues on the trains they have also come up with some great ideas about improvements Northern could make to services and facilities to help discourage poor behaviour.
Since the initiative was launched in September 2009 more pupils now have season tickets and feedback from other passengers has been very encouraging as they notice the positive impact the scheme is having.
Gary Stewart, Safety and Assurance Director at Northern Rail said: “This commendation is fantastic recognition of the innovative approach that David has taken and his commitment and dedication to tackling anti social behaviour on the rail network.
“Through David’s effective working partnerships with the BTP and Knutsford High School the anti-social behaviour problems on trains along this route have been greatly reduced and the scheme has been recognised nationally and trialled at other locations.”
