Criminal Damage

Definition

This is the number of malicious acts on or directly affecting Network Rail infrastructure, normalised per 100 route miles.

Results

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Commentary

The number of malicious acts during 2007/08 has improved significantly compared with previous years, with the normalised moving annual average 11.8% lower than in 2006/07.

We have continued to tackle crime on the railway, in co-operation with our industry partners, through a combination of public education, law enforcement and improved deterrents such as installation of CCTV cameras at more stations, and crime hotspots, and continued improvements to lineside fencing. Last year we reported an increasing number of cable theft incidents, which have continued throughout 2007/08.  These have been influenced by the significant rise in the price of copper. Direct action has been taken to tackle this issue through increased vigilance, increased security, collaborative working with the British Transport Police and civil police forces, and other initiatives such as establishing cable theft hotlines.

Specific initiatives to tackle railway crime include:

• Continuing to implement and evolve the ‘No Messin’ campaign that seeks to educate 10 to 16 year olds in the dangers of playing on the railway, placing objects on the line and throwing stones at trains.
• Further realisation of the benefits of establishing the Community Safety Steering Group (CSSG), Community Safety Partnership Groups (CPSG) and Route Crime Working Groups (RCWG) which provide a multi-level multi-stakeholder co-ordinated approach to managing risk associated with railway crime. These groups encourage nationwide learning from local initiatives and assure that location specific issues are tackled at the appropriate level. Stakeholders include Network Rail, Train Operating Companies and the British Transport Police.
• Use of the Network Rail helicopter, in conjunction with the British Transport Police, to monitor route crime hotspots, or follow up reported incidents, with a view to gaining increased success of securing prosecution.
• Increased use of undercover surveillance cameras and other advancements in security technology at route crime hotspots to collect evidence of trespass and vandalism offences as they are committed.
• Investigation of the potential use of forward facing CCTV cameras in train driving cabs designed to monitor and record evidence of route crime in proximity of the running line.