I have my doubts about the benefits. Suicide prevention/deterrence would require a permanent presence. A person wanting to kill themselves will presumably avoid the orange uniforms and choose a time when these people are away from their part of the platform. If the officers only visit briefly, then that is pointless too. Having spent some time trying to devise ways to deter suicides on LU, I don't see the sporadic presence of orange uniforms being useful. I do wonder though, whether perfectly 'normal' passengers who stray away from the usual busier areas (but still in public areas) will be targeted/questioned.
Our south WCML stations do have a permanent presence but a mobile patrol could be acceptable at low risk locations, perhaps like Syston mentioned by
@sharpley above. That said, a visible deterrent of any sort is enough to give the potentially suicidal person a moment of pause or reflection. The brain see this as a barrier that has to be crossed before the act, especially if unexpected. The research I have seen (which may not be public) shows that even something like the wide yellow hatching on the platforms MAY be enough to turn people back.
Regardless of that view the cost and impact of a suicide ( generally but in this case specifically on the railway) is catastrophic. Everyone from the train driver, to the response staff, to the emergency services, to by standers, to the victims family are ALL damaged terribly. Frankly if this stops that happening once it is worth the money imo.
Yes, people wandering away from common areas should be challenged and engaged with by staff. That is the whole point of the recent campaigns run by NR and Samaritans because these people tick SOME of the boxes associated with people who might be considering ending their life on the railway. A very quick question will remove spotters from concern.
Somebody,s bright idea, agency staff and van that says in partnership with Network Rail.
Who is paying / budget is this coming from then? In the end someone has to pay for it be it costed into train fares or the taxpayer.
You and me are paying for it ultimately. Just like you pay for the costs of the impact of suicide. If the cost of this contract stops one person killing themselves i bet it has paid back!
Not impressed with the idea myself, what does other railways do instead to combat the problem?
Why are you not impressed with an attempt to reduce suicide on the railway? What is the problem?
We have seen an almost total reduction in station based suicides on our section of southern WCML after the introduction of visible patrol people at stations. They seem to be there all of the time the trains are running
I really worry that all this high profile stuff (including the stands from the Samaritans) might just give people ideas.
lets not bother then. The whole point is that people on the platform ( like you and me) might understand the warning signs, spot someone in distress and get them help. We might even just ask them if they are ok................
