On 15th March Network Rail released the latest 'Railway Crime' Statistics, as part of National Railway Crime Week 2005.

The statistics showed over 1,200 reported incidents of railway crime took place in East Anglia last year, including 794 incidents of trespass and 432 incidents of vandalism. Enfield Lock was the single worst location for railway crime in the region, with 26 incidents recorded in 2004. Essex was the county most affected by railway crime, with a total of 475 reported incidents last year.

Two locations from the c2c route made the top 10 'crime hot spots' as follows with a further 3 in the top 30

TRUG comments as follow on these statistics:

These figurers are about specifically RAILWAY crime, as in crimes against the railway, as distinct from crimes committed ON it (such as assaults, robbery etc.), so OF ITSELF it is NOT directly an issue about personal security aspects of safety when travelling. However, graffiti and other vandalism, in addition to costing the industry (and ultimately the passenger/taxpayer) money to repair, does make the railway a less welcoming place, and causes assets (train carriages, train / station toilets, etc.) to be taken out of service, sometimes permanently.

Also no indication has been provided as to how many of these incidents occurred at the stations themselves (or immediately adjacent crossings, say), as distinct from between stations. This makes it particularly difficult to interpret these figures as any indication of the effectiveness or otherwise of on-station staff (including c2c's security guards)

These statistics from Network Rail show that over its "East Anglia" routes, an overall average of 6 incidents of vandalism or trespass occurred per station in 2004. It is therefore a matter of great concern that Ockendon is the 4th worst location for this in the region, and that 3 of the other Thurrock stations are amongst the worst 30 out of some 200 stations, with figures around or exceeding twice the regional average.

TRUG is pleased that NR is highlighting the problem, and shares its concern regarding the costs in damage, service disruption to customers, and unpleasantness of environment for all, caused by such acts of gross selfishness and stupidity.

TRUG calls upon NR, c2c, and the transport and civil police forces to urgently review causes and prevention of, and responses to, this antisocial menace, to bring figures sharply down, at least to the current average, within the shortest practicable timeframe. For example, might there be funding for and benefit from increasing police resources for this purpose, or for extending the number, working hours, powers, and range (to include trackside) of the security guards which c2c, to its credit, has employed to combat antisocial behaviour?

Updated 21/03/2005