Trowbridge is rail crime hot spot (This is Wiltshire 24/07/2010)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

From This is Wiltshire:

Trowbridge has been named and shamed as one of the country^s top rail crime hot spots in a recent report released by Network Rail.

Wiltshire^s county town features within the top 10 list of rail crime hot spots in the country, which include Chippenham, Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon, and Redruth (Cornwall).

The report also revealed that three out of the five near-misses in the south west had involved young people last year, according to the figures. T

There were about 350 recorded incidents involving young people ^ more than 50 per cent

A large number were deliberate acts of trespass and vandalism, with about 150 reports of items, including bicycles, concrete slabs, wheelie bins and trolleys, either being placed or thrown onto the railway line.

British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: ^Our message is simple: the railway is not a playground ^ stay safe and stay out of trouble.^

Quoted including typos!

[Phil]

Sounds like it's just about to become 10 times worse, as well...

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/8344884.Travellers_smash_gates_of_Trowbridge_car_park/?ref=eb

These lowlife left a trail of destruction through Melksham a few weeks ago, upturning tubs of flowers and pulling down hanging baskets, in addition to wrecking the playing fields they set up temporary home on.

[dickyc]

These lowlife left a trail of destruction through Melksham a few weeks ago, upturning tubs of flowers and pulling down hanging baskets, in addition to wrecking the playing fields they set up temporary home on.

Is there any evidence the damage in the town was caused by travellers? It is true the padlock onto Bowerhill playing field 'fell off' and they did leave several skips worth of assorted c**p. A bit of an exaggeration to say the fields were wrecked though. Thanks to the efforts of local council the pitches were back in use by the end of Monday.

Not that the existence of travellers next to Trowbridge station makes it OK for 'enthusiasts' to hurl empty beer bottles from moving trains (18:44 from Trowbridge to Bristol) at their caravans and into the car park. Goes without saying that this action could have caused serious injury to anyone on the receiving end apart from setting an extremely poor example.