Firework is thrown at rail worker (BBC News)

[RF News]

A train conductor is hurt when a firework is thrown at him on a platform at Thornaby Station on Teesside.

More from BBC News...

[Shed Cat]

Police are hunting a white male, in his mid 20's, about 5ft 6ins tall, who was wearing black trousers and a black bomber jacket...

I hope they catch him and convict him. Stupid Idiot

[Dave.]

I hope they catch him and make him clean ballast...

[swisstrains]

Call me a killjoy if you like but I honestly believe that the time has come to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public.

[Trev]

Originally Posted by swisstrains

Call me a killjoy if you like but I honestly believe that the time has come to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public.

I couldn't agree more John. It's just a shame that the actions of the minority of idiots mean that the rest of the population have to go without what could be a perfectly innocent pleasure.

[locojoe]

Hello All
Message Taken from Railways of Britian Group 05/11/2007 00:01


POLICE TARGET HOTSPOTS FOR RAIL STAFF ASSAULTS IN TWO MONTH CRACKDOWN
British Transport Police, supported by the London Criminal Justice Board, train operators and Transport for London, is launching a two-month crackdown on assaults on rail staff from Monday, 5 November.
Targeting hotspots around the capital, police aim to prevent assaults on rail staff and deal quickly and effectively with those who do assault staff. A positive arrest policy will be in place, so those guilty of staff assaults will find themselves in a police cell.

BTP’s Acting Assistant Chief Constable (Crime) Mark Smith said, ‘Last year’s operation shows that staff assaults are under-reported. They clearly represent a totally unacceptable level of violence. People should be able to go about their business without the fear of being assaulted, spat at or abused.’

Support from the London Crown Prosecution Service of staff assault.
During the two month initiative, high profile police operations will link in with Neighbourhood Policing Teams and train operators’ revenue staff. Metal detection equipment and drugs sniffer dogs will also be out ensuring that criminals and thugs have no place to hide on London’s rail systems.
Where assaults do occur, specialist investigative teams will take forward the cases aiming to bring offenders speedily to justice.

Victims will be encouraged to make personal statements that can be put before the courts to show the impact the crime has had on their lives. Where possible, police will also apply for post conviction Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).

‘Staff assault is a very serious offence,’ said Chief Constable Ian Johnston. ‘It is not an occupational hazard. We are determined to deal firmly with those responsible.’

Andrew Morley, Chief Executive, London Criminal Justice Board, commented: ‘This initiative is an exciting example of how the Board can facilitate and support ongoing joint working between criminal justice agencies in order to provide a seamless and high quality criminal justice service to Londoners.”

Howard Collins, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at London Underground said: ‘Tube staff serve the public every day in what can be a challenging environment - there were more than a billion passenger journeys taken on the Underground last year - and they should not be subjected to any type of assault, verbal or physical.

‘London Underground will push for the prosecution of someone suspected of abusing a member of staff wherever possible, and this initiative is a good reminder to those intent on causing trouble on the Underground that it will not be tolerated.’

Notes to Editors:
In 2006/07, BTP recorded 3,026 staff assaults, 8% more than in the previous year. 73% (2,223) of these were in London with 863 (29% of means that no-one caught assaulting staff will be offered a simple police caution. Anyone arrested for assaulting staff on London’s railways, the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway and Croydon Tramlink will be put before the Duty Prosecutor for a charging decision.

BTP will continue to give a priority response to all complaints
the total) reported on the Tube and DLR.
In 2003, there were 450 BTP officers covering London Underground. Over the last few years this has increased to more than 700 officers.

There are approximately 8,500 CCTV cameras on the Tube network which will rise to 12,000 over the next four to five years as part of the ongoing station modernisation programme. This will see the upgrading and expansion of CCTV facilities from analogue to digital and the recording of high quality images to hard drive rather than magnetic tape. This will ultimately mean that no one will be able to enter the Underground network without their face being recorded by CCTV camera.

Every London Underground station has been issued with a DNA “spit kit” for staff to take samples of saliva if they are spat at.
Simple Police Cautions are not a disposal option for staff assaults. In exceptional circumstances, a Crown Prosecutor may decide that a Conditional Caution can be given. That requires an admission of guilt, the agreement of the victim, a written apology and immediate compensation to be paid to the victim on a sliding scale from £50 to £350.

[Dave.]

Originally Posted by swisstrains

Call me a killjoy if you like but I honestly believe that the time has come to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public.

I think it depends for what reasons you ban them: Health and Safety or to reduce crime.

[martin adamson]

I have been in an experience myself where ther have been idiots putting others at risk with fireworks last year. I was on a work placememnt with Stagecoach at Manchester Piccadilly bus station, and some idiots set off fireworks around that area, one just scraped past an innocent person, to be honest it is quite scary when you are around a load of buses and they are letting them off Luckily the staff managmed to gather them all on a us then the police came.

But it is awful. I have to agree that perhaps banning them might be a good idea. Why nt have more proffesional firework displays for people to go to rather than doing it themselves.