Sally Ralston

Said the following about Merseyrail Security Team:

“Whilst it is only small proportion of the travelling public who present on the railway in an intoxicated state, the impact of such individuals can often manifest in staff assaults, accidents or incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour. Given the magnitude of the issue and the associated social pressures, the approach on the Merseyrail network is wide ranging, involving a number of high profile internal and external campaigns.

The main highlights being:

• The enforcement of Byelaw 4, preventing travel to those who are unfit to travel

• Equipping front line staff with conflict resolution training, body cameras and physical security measures to deter such incidents.

• A staff assault pledge; a joint 9 point plan with the BTP, designed to support staff.

• Operation Garland – a joint operation with the BTP that has reduced violence over the Christmas and New Year period

Whilst not exclusive, and a number of other initiatives are in place, these campaigns are the focus of this nomination.

This project was lead by our Security team of Neil Hutchinson and Lee Phillips.

It began following an organised joint workshop as part of the Joint Safety Improvement Committee identified a number of common themes and frustrations in relation to assaults/reporting of assaults.

Summary of Campaigns

Merseyrail Byelaw 4

All of Merseyrail’s front line staff are trained as part of a TravelSafe Scheme to identify persons who present a potential safety issue due to intoxication. The approach focusses on preventing access to the network at the earliest opportunity, which is often in the station. Whilst the success of this initiative is difficult to gauge, we estimate that around 100 safety interventions take place each period (predominately on our underground section). This prevents vulnerable persons from walking into hazardous areas, such as on an escalator (diverting to lifts) or diverting people away from the station to other modes when appropriate.

To complement the scheme, we advertise this and have strategically placed posters and beer mats in nearby public houses, to help educate people on the dangers of the railway.

Staff Assault Pledge – (9 Point Plan)

The staff assault pledge was launched in December 2018 and the objectives of the scheme are to: • Increase engagement and confidence between BTP and Merseyrail staff – so far over 200 front-line staff have received the training and all have strongly agreed that this has improved their confidence in the police. • Reduce staff complaints regarding support and investigation standards – since the scheme launched BTP have reported an increase in staff providing statements and an improved detection rate. • Ensure that staff feel supported and involved

• Increase the detection and prosecution rate for staff assault. • Ensure that staff receive the best support and equipment.

The scheme has been delivered through front line training sessions, posters in the workplace and through a number of videos that outline the support that is available and the joint commitments right through the justice process. Such is the success and popularity of the scheme, BTP are working with the RDG to roll this out nationally and we have committed to supporting them achieving the benefits.

Operation Garland

The operation is a unique approach to tackling the increase in intoxicated passengers throughout November and December (in the lead up to the Xmas Period). Traditionally this has been a time when crime increases, most notably alcohol fuelled staff assaults. In response we have run Operation Garland for 3 continuous years, which involves BTP officers working at our main hub locations (beyond the usual BTP tasking), join operations on board our services, roadshows on crime prevention and education, staff and customer engagement (both online and in person) and a series of talks for staff; designed to help keep them safe. This commitment has led to no staff assaults during this period for 2 consecutive years. Whilst there were two reported incidents during 2018, both resulted in arrest and prosecution. During the 2018 operation, there were no crimes recorded at Southport, Moorfields or James Street (which is unique in itself). At Liverpool Central there were 6 arrests for drunk and disorderly behaviour, 1 for drugs possession, and 2 arrests for assault on Merseyrail staff. In support of Merseyrail’s TravelSafe approach, there were also a large number of ejections from Liverpool Central due to intoxication.

This initiative has shown our staff that their concerns have been taken into account and the pledge developed as a result of this. The team have been invited to present the pledge to the CPS to show the impact of being assaulted at work with a view to get better support and sentencing. BTP believe that they have had more reported assaults that staff have been willing to take through the judicial system since the pledge was launched. There has been an increase in joint working and confidence in the BTP and an increased awareness of the support available.

Ensuring that the Merseyrail network is as safe and secure over the longer term requires a holistic strategy that has been developed over many years. The issues associated to alcohol abuse and subsequent workplace violence are a significant safety concern and we felt that doing something different was the only way to improve. Encouraging responsible alcohol consumption and placing safety at the forefront has led to decreases in violence and accidents. Furthermore, we have noticed that our staff engagement in security and their perception of their safety has increased by 6%. Our NRPS scores in this area are also improving and currently stand at 81% (station) and 73% (train). The BTP relationship and confidence continues to increase and BTP have reported increased detections and staff willing to provide statements. At the main targeted stations (those with an ATG), overall assaults decreased, with the network experiencing an 8.4% reduction in assaults during 2018 and a reduction in LTIs attributed to assault (from 8 in 2017 to 2 during 2018).“