"RailSafe" Partnership

St Albans Conservatives have called for a crime fighting partnership to be established to make the Abbey Flyer safer, following the derailment of a train by vandals.

Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Charles Elphicke has joined forces with St Stephen Cllr and Crime Provention Panel member Gordon Myland and Allan Buxton, Chairman of Bricket Wood Neighbourhood Watch to call for the "RailSafe" Partnership to be established.

They hope that the RailSafe partnership will draw together the Police, local neighbourhood watches, St Albans District Council and train operator Silverlink to combat the growing problem of crime on the line.

In October 2000, Mr Charles Belcher of Silverlink told a meeting of users group Abfly that vandalism on the Abbey Flyer line was a real problem. Graffiti was a regular occurence and help lines were smashed. Mr Belcher also said it was not unknown for trains themsevles to by shot at by people with guns and for bricks to be thrown at trains. Mr Belcher said that this was not something that was expected in "leafy Hertfordshire" and said that he would like to see local organisations work together to combat the problem.

Charles Elphicke said: "The derailment appears to be a deliberate attempt to endanger lives and is a matter of extreme concern. In the past, bricks have been thrown and shots from guns fired at trains. There is a pressing need for action to improve safety. Having spoken to the local Police [PS Linda Cullin-Moir, London Colney Police Station], Abfly, the Park Street and Bricket Wood Neighbourhood Watches and local Councillors, I have found a clear desire to see improvement. Establishing the RailSafe partnership would help bring everyone together to make the Abbey Flyer stations and track safe for all."

Allan Buxton said: "The station in Bricket Wood seems neglected. Graffiti and broken help lines are a real problem. A partnership needs to be set up to look at installing CCTV and reduce the opportunities for attacking trains."

Cllr Gordon Myland said "I will be seeking the support of the Crime Prevention Panel, District Council and the Police for this partnership. We need to establish this partnership urgently to stop vandalism in its tracks."

Page revised: 11 June 2002