Inverness Barriers Go Live

Transcription

1 Page 1 Inverness Barriers Go Live Page 2 Aberdeen PACT Meetings Court Results T in the Park Page 3 Ryder Cup 2014 at Gleneagles Dundee NPT PACT Meeting at Kirkcaldy Page 4 Mark s Cycling for Embrace Aberdeen NPT PACT Meeting at Buchanan Street Page 5 Upgrading of Gleneagles Safety Presentations by Paisley NPT Stirling NPT Scottish Area October 2014 Issue 4 Inverness Barriers Go Live The new Automatic Ticket Barriers have gone live. As of Saturday 30 th August 2014 the barriers which have recently been installed at Inverness have begun operating with newly trained staff. In an attempt to minimise confusion over the operation of the barriers, in the run up to the Go Live date, staff were on hand to give information and offer advice to passengers in over their use. BTP officers from Inverness Neighbourhood Policing Team have been covering the barriers with the new staff members at Peak times and for the late trains to ensure minimum disruption. To date the barriers have proved a great success with revenue increasing due to ticket sales at the barriers from passengers alighting at Inverness and already several people have been reported for minor ticket offences as well as a number of persons spoken too. It has also allowed officers to monitor football fans more closely and prevent persons who are drunk or disorderly from boarding the services at Inverness. Officers will continue to monitor the barriers and work closely with First ScotRail staff in the run up to the end year until passengers get used to the changes. Lauren Cormack, FSR, at the new barriers at Inverness

2 Aberdeen PACT Meetings Over the last few months officers from Aberdeen Neighbourhood Policing Team have held various PACT Meetings. On Thursday 31 st July 2014 PC Gerry McKenna and T/PS Ash Forbes from Aberdeen NPT held a PACT Meeting with representative from First ScotRail, East Coast and the RMT Union. As a result of this meeting a multi agency operation was initiated in relation to Anti-Social Behaviour committed by offshore workers. A further PACT Meeting was held at Aberdeen on Wednesday 24 th September between First ScotRail and T/PS Ash Forbes where a review of the ongoing operations was held. Aberdeen officer PC Anna Skuras and Station Team Manager Steve Ewan held an onboard PACT Meeting on the 1527 hours First ScotRail service from Aberdeen to Inverurie Railway Station on Wednesday 1 st October. Aberdeen NPT officers were available for questions at Inverurie between 1550 hours and 1615 hours. No questions were raised during this and an event is planned for the Aberdeen to Stonehaven commuter service in the near future. On Monday 13 th October a PACT Meeting was held at Aberdeen between Lewis McDonald MSP and T/PS Ash Forbes where a review of the ongoing operations was held, with specific reference to the work that British Transport Police, First ScotRail and our partners have collectively done to combat Anti-Social Behaviour at the entrance to Aberdeen. Court Results Three men who assaulted a 30-year-old man from Lochgelly, on a train travelling between Edinburgh and Inverkeithing, obstructed officers and resisted arrest have been fined a total of 2, year-old Gary McCormack, Liam Turner (19) and Callum Susans, aged 23, all pled guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to the offences which occurred on the train and at Haymarket station on Saturday 10 th May The victim was also awarded 500 in compensation. Richard Critchlow (39) from London who smashed the window of a moving train before jumping from it and trying to make good his escape by running into the sea at Dunbar was sentenced to nine months in prison when he appeared at Haddington Sheriff court in August Two men who stole a mobile phone from a train conductor were each sentenced to two months in prison recently. John Flynn (24) and Sean Keir (33) appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and were found guilty of the offence which occurred on a train travelling between Shotts and Uddingston in April this year. T in the Park The T in the Park music festival passed without incident during the month of July 2014 with hundreds of people passing through Perth Railway Station on route to Balado, just outside Kinross in Fife. During the festival Perth Neighbourhood Policing Team officers were involved in the policing of T in the Park and approximately 500 festival goers used the railway to travel to it all coming through Perth. Officers travelled on trains as far away as Wick without incident. This event was very effectively policed by Perth officers. Three males were dealt with for fare evasion and a report was submitted with no other incidents. T/PS Ash Forbes with Lewis McDonald MSP at Aberdeen

3 Ryder Cup 2014 at Gleneagles The Ryder Cup, between Europe and the USA, played at Gleneagles was an amazing spectacle watched by millions of golf fans across the world. It once again showcased Scotland in the year that Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games. ScotRail has said that it carried almost 50,000 passengers through the newly-refurbished Gleneagles station during the three days of the competition, from all over Scotland and BTP did not experience any issues or record any offences. Temporary Superintendent Dave Marshall expressed his appreciation for all those involved in the significant policing operation put in place by the Scotland Division. He said: Our extensive planning ensured that those travelling to and from the event did so safely and that the station environment was a safe and secure one. I want to thank the officers who delivered one of the biggest partnership working operations that I have experienced for any event. The feedback from passengers and our partners has been fantastic and you re your hard work and efforts are greatly appreciated. Dundee NPT A PACT meeting took place at Dundee Railway Station on Wednesday 20 th August 2014 with Dundee Neighbourhood Policing Team officers and ScotRail station staff. Issues arose regarding staff parking arrangements whereby the area currently used adjacent to the signal box has seen an increase in non-staff cars parking in this area which has resulted in staff members being delayed in starting work. Dundee NPT officers in consultation with the station manager will be submitting a Problem Solving Plan in relation to this. Relevant signage will have to be ordered. An update on this will be submitted within the next news letter. PACT Meeting at Kirkcaldy Railway Station On Monday 22 nd September 2014 PC Lynda Casey and PC Craig Buchanan of the Kirkcaldy Neighbourhood Policing Team held a PACT meeting at Kirkcaldy with First ScotRail ticket examiners who are based at the station. Local issues were discussed. This enabled officers to continue their excellent working relationship with rail staff. Also at this time travelling members of the public were spoken with and much reassurance provided.

4 Mark s Cycling for Embrace PC Mark Taylor from Stirling Neighbourhood Policing Team joined another 25,000 people and took part in a 100-mile cycle to raise funds for Embrace Child Victims of Crime in August PACT Meeting at Buchanan Street PC Brian Kelly and PC Chris Stewart from the Glasgow Subway Neighbourhood Policing Team held a PACT Meeting at Buchanan Street Railway Station on Tuesday 14 th October 2014 for public consultation and feedback. The prestigious challenge event took place on Sunday 10 th August 2014 on closed roads around London and into the Surrey countryside and celebrated the legacy for cycling created by the Olympics and Paralympics in Embrace is the only national children s charity in the UK whose sole purpose is to help young victims of crime recover from the traumatic experiences they ve innocently suffered. It offers a range of practical and emotional support, and relies entirely on fundraising to continue its services. Each year, more and more children and families need help, and 2014 is the charity s 21st Birthday. Aberdeen NPT During September 2014 PC Craig Allan from Aberdeen Neighbourhood Policing Team attended a partnership meeting with the Samaritans Charity in relation to working together towards reducing the risks for vulnerable persons on the railway network. All Aberdeen Neighbourhood Policing Team officers have conducted an Operation in relation to youths causing Anti-Social Behaviour at Laurencekirk, which has resulted in a group of youths reported for 12 different offences during August and September The PACT meeting went well with good interaction with members of the public. The BTP officers were in attendance assisted with one colleague from Strathclyde Partner for Transport (SPT) Advice was given to the public on Safe Journey, Operation Wiggins, Operation Magnum and High Profile policing in the Subway, as well as providing leaflets and guidance on the TEXT service amongst other things. There were no outstanding issues received from anyone.

5 Upgrading of Gleneagles The newly refurbished Gleneagles was opened ahead of the Ryder Cup tournament in September Work was completed on the 7 million Gleneagles Station enhancement project and was officially opened by Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Transport and Veterans on Thursday 26 th June The enhancements included station enhancement, step free access and a link road and car park. The Ryder Cup races passed without incident during September 2014 with hundreds of persons passing through Perth on route to the Scone Palace area of Perth. Mr Michael Portillo and a crew from the BBC were in Perth during the month filming for Great British Railway Journeys, a series that follows the railway across Great Britain. Safety Presentations by Paisley NPT On Tuesday 30 th September 2014 PC Bob Johnstone and PC Peter Quinn from the Paisley Neighbourhood Policing Team went along to give a safety talk to the children at St Constantine s Nursery School in Govan. The talk was well received by the pupils and the officers took along their mascot Bertie the Panda and received positive feedback from staff. On Thursday 2 nd October PC Bob Johnstone and PC Peter Quinn delivered a safety presentation to over 500 pupils at Stanley Primary School in Ardrossan, following a request from the Head Teacher after a former pupil from the school was electrocuted on 23 rd September 2014 in the Dalry Road area of Ardrossan. Between Friday 26 th September and Friday 3 rd October PC Bob Johnstone and PC Peter Quinn along with Inspector Lynda Lang took part in the annual Substance Abuse Days run by Carrick Crime Prevention Panel. The talks were given to every S3 pupil at Carrick Academy, Queen Margaret Academy and Girvan Academy and Inspector Lynda Lang was invited by Mr Alex Kelly who is the chair person of the Panel to open the event at Carrick Academy. Stirling NPT Due to a rise in vehicles parking without valid parking tickets around Stirling officers from the Stirling Neighbourhood Policing Team have been providing a high profile presence within the pay and display car parks around the station. In conjunction with members of First ScotRail, officers have been carrying out routine checks on vehicles, with any offending vehicles identified being subject to police enquires. Due to an increase in Bike Thefts from the cycle racks around Stirling, officers from the Stirling Neighborhood Policing Team have been providing high profile patrols around the area. Stirling Neighbourhood Policing Team are also providing free bicycle marking and registering service at the British Transport Police office within the Stirling, and would ask customers using the railway to consider attending as it offers an increased chance of getting their bike back if it s stolen and recovered by police.