HSBC Rail Business Awards 2009
Nomination: National Express East Coast (East Coast)
Safety and Security Excellence Category:
Title: EAST COAST RAIL ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
SUMMARY
In December 2008 East Coast introduced Railway Enforcement Officers (REO) as part of the Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme (RSAS) to make the railways a safer place.
Working in partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP), 14 East Coast employees have been accredited with limited police powers in order to reduce crime, and improve safety and security on trains and at stations, benefiting staff and the travelling public.
Since the REO team commenced patrolling the ECML route they have carried out over 3,200 high visibility train and station patrols, removed 1,700 offenders from stations and trains, made 20 arrests, aided the recovery of over £66,000 worth of ticket revenue and saved the lives of two people.
BACKGROUND
In December 2008 East Coast introduced Railway Enforcement Officers (REO) as part of the Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme (RSAS) to make the railways a safer place.
Working in partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP), 14 East Coast employees have been accredited with limited police powers in order to reduce crime, and improve safety and security on the railway, benefiting passengers, staff, tenants and others using our trains and stations.
RSAS is part of the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS), introduced following the Police Reform Act of 2002, which has seen the introduction of Police
Community Support Officers and Special Constables by police forces throughout
England and Wales.
Under the legislation, the BTP’s Chief Constable launched the RSAS scheme in 2005 to enable the BTP to implement the accreditation scheme specialised in the railway environment.
Under RSAS, accreditation is awarded to the train operating company which grants limited powers to its employees, aimed at providing a better quality of life in the railway community.

All REO’s undergo an intensive training course which involves legislation and powers, crime reduction, conflict management, Health & Safety, statement writing, problem solving and First Aid.
Whilst the railway remains a safe and pleasant way to travel, there is no room for c omplacency and East Coast’s REO scheme sends out a clear message to the small minority who commit crime that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated on trains or stations.
OBJECTIVES OF THE REO SCHEME
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To provide a visible presence in the railway community to help reduce crime and the fear of crime.
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To improve the relationship between BTP and East Coast with the better coordination of policing and security resources.
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To support neighbourhood policing in communities along the East Coast route.
SELECTION AND TRAINING
A BTP Inspector was seconded to East Coast, in the role of Revenue Protection
Manager, to implement the REO project.
The REOs were selected from a number of backgrounds including internally within the railway industry and externally, including from police forces. Applicants attended an assessment day which included a structured interview, ability tests and a personality questionnaire.
REO Training is for 4 weeks covering legislation and powers, crime reduction, conflict management, Health & Safety, statement writing, problem solving and First Aid.
Successful applicants were finally appointed following the completion of police vetting checks and passing two exams covering powers and legislation.
THE ROLE OF THE REO
The REOs are mainly led by intelligence provided by staff, other train companies, the general public and passengers. Their main duties are to:
 conduct regular, highly visible uniformed patrols on trains and at stations throughout the East Coast route, working closely with onboard and station staff, to counter public disorder, fare evasion and minimise risks to public safety.
 ensure railway byelaws are observed and summary offences using conventional reporting methods and BTP penalty notices.
 undertake minor crime investigations, including taking crime reports, statement and seizing and preserving evidence.
 prepare and submit written statements of evidence and attend court to support prosecutions where necessary.
REOs also have the powers to eject persons from the railway using reasonable force under the Railway Byelaws and Regulation of Railways Act.

SUPPORTING THE BTP
East Coast’s REOs support the BTP by their presence and activities as they have the ability to address certain issues on the spot without involving the police by:
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 conducting highly visible uniformed patrols to counter public disorder and fare evasion, and to minimise risks to public safety ensuring Railway Byelaws are observed, including the issuing of Penalty
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Notices.
undertake minor crime investigations, including taking crime reports, writing and preparing statements, and seizing, preserving and submitting evidence to support prosecutions.
 supporting Train Guards to inspect tickets and reduce fare evasion.
 if necessary, eject people from the railway using reasonable force.
BENEFITS FOR RAILWAY STAFF
The REOs support railway staff by delivering a high visibility, uniformed presence at stations and on trains. This provides reassurance to staff, making them feel safer and more secure in their daily duties.
REOs also regularly attend team meetings so that employees have the opportunity to highlight particular issues that affect them.
The work of the REOs has also reduced fare evasion and protected revenues, which in turn benefits the company and its employees.
Working alongside the BTP, RE Os enforce East Coast’s dry trains (trains on which alcohol is neither sold or permitted to be brought on board) which operate when large numbers of football fans are travelling, reducing incidents of disorder and providing reassurance for staff and customers.
BENEFITS FOR PASSENGERS
The presence of REOs provides passengers with a safer and more secure environment in which to travel. REOs reduce crime by creating high visibility, proactive patrolling teams, patrolling stations and trains en route.
Results so far are very encouraging and show that anti-social behaviour has been reduced as a direct result of the highly visible presence of REOs.
REOs are intelligence led with dedicated teams dealing with issues at stations, and on trains at key times - when it matters the most.
The scheme also demonstrates that East Coast is directly tackling fare evasion which is frustrating and unfair on the vast majority of the honest, fare-paying passengers.
ACHIEVEMENTS

Since the REO team commenced patrolling the East Coast Main Line route in
December 2008 they have:
 Carried out over 1,500 high visibility train patrols and 1,700 station patrols.
 Removed over 1,700 offenders from stations and trains.
 Submitted over 200 intelligence reports from staff at stations and onboard.
 Reported over 60 people to court for ticket less travel or Byelaw offences.
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Issued over 360 parking penalty notices.
 Identified and passed over £49,000 worth of ticket sales to Train Guards and
Travel Centres.
 A further £17,000 has been recovered as a result of detecting the misuse of season tickets.
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REOs intercepted suicidal female at Newcastle and returned her to York into the custody of North Yorkshire Police.
 REOs at Durham prevented a suicide after observing a female acting in a strange manner and then intercepted the female who was heading towards the
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 viaduct with the intention of committing suicide. Detained and handed to
Durham Police.
Confiscated an illegal knife being carried by a passenger.
REOs dealt with unconscious female - suspected drugs overdose.
Assisted Northumbria Police with Road Traffic Collision outside Newcastle
Central.
REOs assisted the BTP in a joint drugs operation which resulted in 3 arrests
High visible patrol at York for John Smiths and Ebor race meetings, and
Doncaster for the St Leger.
REOs have also been involved with more than 20 arrests including:-
 Three arrested in an £87,000 fraud against NXEC.
 Suspect arrested in the USA as a result of an investigation instigated by the NXEC REOs relating to counterfeit International tickets.
 Male arrested in an £17,000 fraud against NXEC.
 Person arrested for selling blank ticket stock with a face value of between
£1 million and £3 million.