Scheme to help curb crime at railway station

British Transport Police has launched a Neighbourhood Watch-style scheme at Northallerton station in North Yorkshire in the hope of using intelligence from the public to track down offenders.

While British Transport Police stressed that the Northallerton site has not been blighted by a surge in offences, they admitted that it had been subjected 
to graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

The site is already protected by closed circuit television cameras and is regularly patrolled by police, but the new Station Watch scheme is aimed at preventing problems escalating.

Sergeant Jo Christon said: “The scheme is all about residents, passengers and rail staff working together with us to address any crime or other issues which arise at the station and surrounding area. It’s important that we listen to passengers and local residents about issues and crime that concerns or affects them so we can take action to prevent it.”

It is the first scheme of its kind in Yorkshire, but similar projects have already been launched in London and Wales. British Transport Police confirmed the scheme could be rolled out to other locations, including Knaresborough station which has been blighted by drunken gangs in recent weeks.

The Yorkshire Post revealed last month there had been a series of reports of men running across the tracks and climbing on the gantries at the station after they are thought to have gone on the all-day drinking sessions before arriving back to catch a train.

The next Station Watch meeting in Northallerton will be held on September 6 at the Samaritans Centre, Crosby Road, at 6.30pm. Meetings will then be held on the first Thursday of every month. Anyone interested in joining the scheme can contact Sgt Christon on 0113 2472351.