Bogus charity collector jailed
A man who pocketed commuters’ charity donations across the South has been jailed for 13 months.
Probe into car park death
An investigation has been launched after the death of a man who jumped from a multi-storey car park.
Appeal after train assault
Police say the incident started after a man made homophobic comments about a passenger's dyed green hair.
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The number to text to report rail crime - 61016 - full report
If you travel on the trains then it might be worth putting this text number in your mobile phone: 61016 is a new text service launched today by British Transport Police to report crime on our railways.
Anything from anti social behaviour to vandalism can be reported discreetly which it's hoped will identify problem routes and help catch offenders.
Our transport correspondent Mike Pearse reports and speaks to Dep Ch Const Paul Crowther and Sara Nelson of Passenger Focus.
Text to beat travel crimes - video report
Transport Police are to use new technology in a major crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour on trains.
From today passengers who see or witness anything suspicious can alert officers by text. Police say it should help them build up a better picture of where to target resources.
Our Transport Correspondent Mike Pearse reports and speaks to Dep Ch Const Paul Crowther of British Transport Police.
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Getting the message out
British Transport Police is promoting its new texting service for people to report non-emergency incidents.
Transport Police promote text service
Crime text initiative welcomed
The news that rail passengers can report crimes to British Transport Police via text message has been welcomed.
David Sidebottom, Passenger Focus director, said: “Passengers tell us that they generally feel safe on the railway, however, they will welcome this initiative as it will provide them with an easy way to highlight the problems they come across.”
DCC Crowther, of BTP, added: "Low-level anti-social behaviour, which we know occurs on trains often later at night and when people have been drinking, is undoubtedly under-reported.
“We hope that the ease of being able to send a quick text message will encourage more passengers to report incidents."
Hopes that more crime will be reported
BTP hopes that rail passengers will be more likely to report incidents such as anti-social behaviour, if they can do so via text message.
Deputy Chief Constable, Paul Crowther said: Text messaging is a quick and everyday way to communicate and we know passengers want to be able contact us this way.
“By encouraging passengers to also report incidents via text, we hope we'll get a more complete picture of the sort of low-level but all too common incidents that affect people’s journeys across the network.
“However, text messages should never be sent in an emergency situation as there are no guarantees that they send correctly or are received promptly.”
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Crime can be reported via text
Rail passengers will be able to report incidents to police via text message under plans announced today.
It follows the launch of a new non-emergency text number by British Transport Police (BTP).
The 61016 text number will be monitored 24/7 and whilst it is not for reporting emergencies, there will be the capacity to send a policing response if required.
Police ask for help after spate of cycle thefts
British Transport Police officers have released CCTV images of people they would like to speak to following incidents of cycle theft in the Sussex area over the past few months. Investigators are appealing to the public to come forward to help identify people, captured by the cameras.
PC Billy Burstow said: “The officers investigating nine cases have followed a number of lines of enquiry and circulated images on police intelligence systems to try to get names for people - but to no avail so far."
Bogus charity collector jailed
A man who pocketed commuters’ charity donations across the South has been jailed for 13 months.
Read the full storyProbe into car park death
An investigation has been launched after the death of a man who jumped from a multi-storey car park.
Read the full story