Vertical Markets

Safer travel award

by Mark Rowe

The Purley, south London-based Safer Travel Team at the train operator Southern has won the Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme (RSAS) Team of the Year award at the 2015 National Complementary Policing Awards, run by British Transport Police (BTP).

The team, which comprises Southern Rail Neighbourhood Officers (RNO) and BTP officers had already won a regional RSAS Team award and was nominated for a national award by BTP Inspector Jack Ioannou. Entries came from all over the railways. As well as the overall support the team has given the police, the main thrust of the nomination was to mark the work the team had done to eradicate the tissue begging which was becoming more and more prevalent on train services. Briefly, ’tissue beggars’ are people moving through carriages leaving packets of tissues on seats with notes saying money is needed, typically for children, rent or food.

The Safer Travel Team was introduced in 2010, with teams based at Purley and Brighton. Since then, the staff have patrolled 20,000 trains and made 14,500 station visits. In that time, they have issued 6,700 Penalty Fares, 2,700 Fare Evasion notices, made 340 arrests, issued 450 cautions and given 37,075 Anti-Social Behaviour warnings.

BTP Inspector Jack Ioannou said: “I was delighted that the Purley RNO team won the national awards as RSAS team of the year. The team demonstrate their diversity and inclusion on a daily basis dealing with one of most diverse areas in London. They have demonstrated their inclusiveness by engaging with other emergency services, scouts and young persons in education. The RNO team are a pleasure to work with, they all have a professional “can do” attitude together with a real commitment to serving the community and are great ambassadors of Southern and the Railway community.”

And Southern’s Head of Revenue Protection and Security, Stella Morris said: “I am delighted that team has won this prestigious award. Both teams have had a massive effect on making travel safer and more comfortable for our passengers and this is a testament to their hard work and their professionalism, which can be tested at times when things get difficult. They are a credit to themselves and to Southern.”

Related News

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing