Topic ID 2077
Was anyone else on the 8.30 am train into Hertford East this morning? I was sat by the window as it came out of Ware and was only saved from decapitation by the second pane of glass. Some little sh*tes obviously think it is fun to hurl rocks at the train. Well, today they managed to shatter the outer window beside my head. I did report it to the lone ticket inspector at Hertford East but the reaction from her suggests that, once again, F*ck all will actually happen. Yet another example of feral brats running wild - I despair
Reply ID 27640
I despair.
Reply ID 27643
Devereaux - What happened when you pulled the emergency lever? What did the Police say when you phoned them? Please tell us....
Reply ID 27649
What is the point in stopping the train and making everyone late? I can't see the driver running across the meads to catch them!As for calling the police, sadly, previous experience suggests I would be wasting my time.
Reply ID 27652
I was starting to get a bit fed up with Berbatov's "what did you do when you called the police...." repsonses when it clicked what he is actually getting at. Pulling the emergency lever would have achieved nothing but there is nothing to stop Deveraux reporting the incident to One and the police. Over the last 10-20 years it has become too easy to say "what's the point in reporting it to the police, what do they do?" I've been guilty ofit myself. However, if you don't then you can guarantee that nothing will be done. Imagine if this had happened 10 times and no one reported it. The police would be unaware and the perpetrators would just carry on. One day they might decide that throwing stones at trains is boring and stick something on the line. However, if the police have 10 reports then they have something to work with, especially if those 10 people follow up their calls. I think Berbatov has a very valid point otherwise we could descend into anarchy.
Reply ID 27655
Indeed t'is true. It's the equivalent of complaining about the government then admitting you didn't vote. The real value is in the cumulative effect. Bugger it! Lets agitate and annoy (or in my case, annoy more). It may have no effect but it's fun.
Reply ID 27656
Such incidents should always be reported to the police, if for no other reasons than statistics. There might be nothing that they can do about this partuicular incident, but they should at least be aware of what's happening. I fully agree with John Smith's comments.
Reply ID 27669
quote:John - Glad you recognised the reason for my question. I am intrigued when people use the 'what's the point?' answer. If that is the case, what's the point in mentioning it in the first place? I had yobs plague our street for 3 to 4 months and so I religiously rang the police when an incident occurred until something was done. Now it is as calm as ever, bliss most of the time, as it should be. As Steve says, the stats do the talking as far as crime detection goes. Also, people are keen to have a moan that their Council Tax contribution is being wasted. The Police take a significant chunk of that money so we should use them when we need them. We are all paying for a reactive service if we should ever need it and this incident is a perfect example of when to call the debt in. The 999 emergency number should have been dialled in this instance as it was a direct threat on the safety of a lot of people.
Originally posted by JohnSmith
I was starting to get a bit fed up with Berbatov's "what did you do when you called the police...." repsonses when it clicked what he is actually getting at. Pulling the emergency lever would have achieved nothing but there is nothing to stop Deveraux reporting the incident to One and the police. Over the last 10-20 years it has become too easy to say "what's the point in reporting it to the police, what do they do?" I've been guilty ofit myself. However, if you don't then you can guarantee that nothing will be done. Imagine if this had happened 10 times and no one reported it. The police would be unaware and the perpetrators would just carry on. One day they might decide that throwing stones at trains is boring and stick something on the line. However, if the police have 10 reports then they have something to work with, especially if those 10 people follow up their calls. I think Berbatov has a very valid point otherwise we could descend into anarchy.
Reply ID 27690
Interesting replies folks - many thanks Upon reflection, Berb I think you're right - next time (and sure as eggs are eggs - it will happebn again) I'll phone the police and see what happens - or doesn't
Reply ID 27699
Deveraux, please phone the police if it happen again. If you get nowhere, contact me and I'll be more than happy to help progress this with you.
Reply ID 27746
Deveraux, It's not too late to log a report with the police. You can call the British Transport Police (BTP) on freephone number 0800 40 50 40 to report this offence and any future similar incidents on the railway network. The BTP take these offences seriously as 'stonethrowing' is classed under the railway byelaws. However, if it 'endangers safety on the railway' it is a totally different offence. If it is done with intent to endanger safety it carries a maximun of life imprisonment (not that anyone will get life, especially with overcrowded prisions!!). If it endangers safety but was done without intent to endanger a persons safety it carries a maximum of 2 years. Therefore, these "route crimes" are a BTP priority. (On top of that you have damage to a very expensive window!) Retrospective investigation of this incident may not be possible but it will certainly be picked up by the Route Crime officers. (There are two officers based at Kings Cross whose area includes Hertford North and two at Liverpool Street whose area covers Hertford East). If similar incidents are reported then the police have a better idea of what is going on and the more incidents reported in a certain locality the more likely there will be a proactive response. (Also, the route crime officers work closely with Network Rail to impliment long term solution to ongoing problems). I agree with most of the comments above, these sort of incidents need to be reported (even if you think nothing is being done) otherwise the police won't know about them. If they don't know then it is certain that nothing will be done!
Reply ID 27762
SSG I have reported this through to BTP this morning using the number you provided. They were very helpful, took all of the details and thanked me for taking the time to call. I have a crime report number and will update here if I hear anything back.
Reply ID 27798
quote:Nice one Dev. [:)]
Originally posted by Deveraux
SSG I have reported this through to BTP this morning using the number you provided. They were very helpful, took all of the details and thanked me for taking the time to call. I have a crime report number and will update here if I hear anything back.
Reply ID 27888
The train was subjected to another bout of stone throwing this morning - at the same time and in the same place as on Friday. Fortunately there was no major damage on this occassion but I have made another report to BTP and I will continue to do so every time this happens until action is taken to stop it.
Reply ID 27891
Well done Dev [:)]
Reply ID 28084
put electric fences around the train tracks and that will soon put an end to trespassing little chavs!! Surely a little obvservation work on the area in question could lead to the culprits being aprehended?
Reply ID 28087
But with the jails full, all they will get is a slap on the wrist and be told to be good boys and not do it again.
Reply ID 28091
Surely ASBOs are the prefered punishment for this kind of behaviour.
Reply ID 28742
Just as a footnote, I had a call from the British Transport Police a few minutes ago to update me on this - it was definitely worthwhile reporting the incidents to them. Thanks all for your good advice!
Reply ID 28748
Well, someone's going to ask, so it may as well be me... What did they say?
Reply ID 28751
quote:"Could I speak to Mr Deveraux Please?" No, seriously, the Constable explained that it is difficult to follow up these kind of incidents. However, now that this area has been flagged up as a troublespot the route officers will be keeping a watchful eye on it ....[^]
Originally posted by Steve
Well, someone's going to ask, so it may as well be me... What did they say?
Reply ID 28766
Given the time of day that the incident occured I suggest that the location from where the missile was thrown is either on or near to the culprits route to school. If you have passed details of the location on to the BTP they should be able to monitor the area discretely. Expending the effort to catch these idiots and make an example of them will deliver more than just punishment but will also send a message to others.
Reply ID 30980
I used to work as a trainee signalman at Broxbourne years ago, and there was a spate of oiks shooting at trains with air rifles. Guess what the driver's rule book said for a case like this. 'Travel slowly past the point at which the incident is taking place' Why not just paint a big target on the train?
Reply ID 30983
The reason for travelling slowly is to avoid the possibility of the speed of the missile being compounded by the speed of the train. If a half-brick were to penetrate a train travelling at 70mph it could hit someone futher back in the carriage at the same speed, or more acurately they could hit it. It isn't hard to hit a train at any speed.