Alex Sullivan-Wilson

Said the following about Vital Patrollers East Coast - Trespass and Vandalism Teams:

“Vital patrollers on the East Coast Main Line were introduced in October 2018 after a trial in 2017 going from 6 to 36 and are officially badged as Trespass and Vandalism teams but their main focus is to save lives by Preventing Suicide.

They are managed by Manager Chris Gostling and Lead Patrollers Joel Jackson, Rich Lee and Alan Williams. Working for Network Rail and in partnership with Network Rail and BTP and wider rail industry.

Working 10 or 12 hour shifts at hotspots Vital doing both static and vehicle born rapid response across assigned territories using Samaritans MSC training, their railway knowledge and experience such as PTS to safeguard the vulnerable.

Screened for their communication skills, concern for vulnerable people and diligence out of a pool of safety-critical railway experienced people, the Vital Patrollers are a visible Vigilant Presence at key locations checking well-being among passengers public within the rail boundary and performing Lifesaving Interventions.

So far Vital have performed over 158 lifesaving interventions since October 2018. These are based on the nationally agreed definition of a lifesaving intervention - where a person was attempting to place themselves in a position to end their life (such as a precarious position or 4 foot of the track) and/or stating their intention to do so. This figure only includes interventions where they have been first to engage with the vulnerable person and have safeguarded the life by compassionately communicating with that person and moving them to a place of safety. Often delivering them into the hands of Police officers, and working in rapid response with British Transport Police.

A trial of night vision cameras and drones by Vital was successful and helped to identify trespassers on the line and ensure their safety also.

One Vital Patroller who had previously been a mental health nurse said he has done more good as a Vital Patroller than in the previous nursing role, mentioning it as a privilege to be able to interrupt mental health crises and save lives at the point of crisis.

It is wonderful to see the care, dedication, and effectiveness of these teams - helping people in the direst of circumstances - some saved while self harming with knives, broken bottles and other sharps. Vital patrollers maintained a safe distance but spoke to them, letting them know people do care, giving them a chance to emotionally release the pressure that has built up within them, and gotten the police and emergency services to them.

They have also looked after drivers during a fatality - providing an empathetic presence during this hugely traumatic experience.

Last financial year and this one they have saved over 40 lives.

As an example of suicide intervention was where one young woman experiencing severe mental illness, distraught at having her child removed to family fostering, presented at a station with intent to end her life, abusing alcohol and on day release from a mental health unit, the mixture of medication and alcohol exacerbated her condition and she had to be restrained from leaping in front of a train.

Within 3 weeks she returned as Christmas approached and managed to get onto the nearby viaduct and was so desperate to end her life she physically attacked the Lead Patroller who went to save her - he then had to ensure both of their safety and his own. He managed to get between her and the track, and from getting any further onto the viaduct (to get to a high place where she could end her life also) and stopped her from ending her life while while his patrolling partner stopped the trains.

The police who arrived said she had overdosed and/or tried to take her life by hanging on over a dozen occasions and her mother came to the station to thank the Lead Patroller.

At this station alone there have been over 25 lifesaving interventions by Vital (and on track within 100 yards) of which these were just two.

They save lives at a rate that is truly inspiring and I am proud to have worked with them, set them up contractually for Network Rail and deployed them.“