British Transport Police patrols to increase in Cleland
On Monday 11th April a train conductor was spat on by a group of around six boys on board a train
British Transport Police is stepping up patrols in the Cleland area of Lanarkshire after a spate of anti-social behaviour incidents.
A train conductor was spat on by a group of around six boys who he had requested to leave the train at Cleland station due to their disorderly behaviour.
A group of youths are reported to have trespassed on the railway line near the station and two youths were seen to throw bricks at a passing train. Inspector Gary Brown, the BTP officer with responsibility for policing the rail network in that area, said: “This sort of unsavoury behaviour aimed at rail staff, going about their daily duties won’t be tolerated by BTP.
"Anyone who was on the train, which was the 13.57 Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central service, or was at the station and has information which can help identify the youths responsible is asked to contact BTP.
“With the onset of the lighter nights and Easter school holidays we do see an increase in route crime, such as trespassing, stonethrowing and lineside vandalism and we will be carrying out substantially more patrols in the area to prevent a repetition. Parents need to ask themselves if they know where their children are and are they happy that they have done enough to warn them of the dangers which can be posed by the railway which can be an extremely dangerous environment."
A spokeswoman for ScotRail said, “We do not tolerate crime of any kind on the railway, and always work with BTP to ensure offenders are brought to justice.”