Rail operator Northern is encouraging its customers to download the ‘Railway Guardian’ app, which provides a facility to easily report suspicious behaviour.
Northern’s Chief Operating Officer, Tricia Williams, has revealed that by using the app, some of the worst crimes committed on the rail operator’s services may well have been avoided should suspicious behaviour have been reported.
Tricia’s comments come as British Transport Police re-release its safety-based ‘Railway Guardian’ app, which provides its users with a quick and easy opportunity to report crimes or concerns across the rail network.
The app also offers a way to share journeys with trusted contacts, whilst providing news, guides and support.
One incident, saw a brick hit the cab window of a train travelling at 70mph, leaving the driver with terrible injuries. Last month also saw Northern trains targeted by somebody using an air gun, which led to a £1,000 reward offered by the rail operator.
Tricia Williams said: “Whilst they are extremely rare, we’ve seen some horrendous incidents on the railway these past 12 months”
“With so many of them, the old maxim ‘someone must know something’ is what we need to focus on. These are senseless crimes that could have been avoided.”
“We need to look out for one another and the ‘Railway Guardian’ app helps get information about threats to the railway – or rail users – to the right people quickly and simply.”
To download British Transport Police’s ‘Railway Guardian’ app, please visit the Apple App Store or Google Play
For anyone wishing to provide information regarding any criminal activity on the railway, please get in touch with British Transport Police using one of the following methods:
- Text 61016
- Call 0800 40 50 40
- Call Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111
Responses