Anti-social behaviour between Bristol and Taunton

[edwin_m]

Didn’t Queen Victoria used to draw the curtains when passing through? I can't remember what the town had done to offend her

Anti-royalist since Cromwell's time, I think.

A consequence of the Monmouth rebellion I think, which was indeed part of the aftermath of the Civil War.

 

[sheff1]

A friend of mine said a group of teenagers got on a CrossCountry at Taunton recently and were trying to steal people’s luggage/threatening staff and passengers and trying to start fights. The British Transport Police were called but did not attend.

BTP are quite variable, some are really good, others are less effective.

What doesn’t help is they are the standard go-to for a massive amount of issues, so simple reality is they can’t be everywhere.

So why do we continue to be bombarded with the “See it, Say it, Sorted” aural pollution.

 

[RailWonderer]

Up north, on at least one main station towards Manchester the police have done some drug searches with police dogs. Sounds like some drug dogs in the west country could be useful. Though Bristol is so full of drugs the dogs would be going off constantly

Add Gloucester to that as well. After five pm half of everybody on the shutting high street seem to be drug users

 

[Lewisham2221]

So why do we continue to be bombarded with the “See it, Say it, Sorted” aural pollution.

Three reasons, really:

1. There might be an available unit, close enough to attend.
2. They may still be able to investigate and deal with the incident afterwards.
3. It helps to build up a picture of what's happening and where, allowing them to more effectively plan the deployment of their thinly spread resources.

 

[sheff1]

Three reasons, really:

1. There might be an available unit, close enough to attend.
2. They may still be able to investigate and deal with the incident afterwards.
3. It helps to build up a picture of what's happening and where, allowing them to more effectively plan the deployment of their thinly spread resources.

See It, Say It, Might be Sorted.

 

[43066]

See It, Say It, Might be Sorted.

Well you probably aren’t willing to pay higher fares/taxes to pay for proper police coverage. So it’s likely as good as it can be given the financial constraints.

 

[The exile]

Well you probably aren’t willing to pay higher fares/taxes to pay for proper police coverage. So it’s likely as good as it can be given the financial constraints.

Fares, no. Taxes, yes.

 

[brad465]

Pity Trains cant be as secure as an Aircraft but there are often issues with flights from Bristol too!

Interesting you bring this up in the week someone caused trouble on an aircraft by trying to open an escape door while in the air (albeit this was Tokyo).

A consequence of the Monmouth rebellion I think, which was indeed part of the aftermath of the Civil War.

How the flip did a discussion about anti-social behaviour in one specific area descend into discussing the Civil war 400 years ago???

Bridgwater has been growing rapidly. The number of new houses that have been built there recently is staggering. Every time I pass that way there is another load that have sprung up. Inevitably, as a town grows, the increased population does bring with it a few ne'er-do-wells.

The station could really do with upgrading both physically and in service frequency for this reason alone. Maybe doing this will also see the behaviour issues in the area addressed. The large housing growth is driven largely by Hinkley Point C and the Gravity factory being constructed nearby.

 

[Krokodil]

How the flip did a discussion about anti-social behaviour in one specific area descend into discussing the Civil war 400 years ago???

Because that specific area has long had a reputation

 

[43066]

Fares, no. Taxes, yes.

But the current government isn’t likely to be willing to pay more for this (or to allow GBR to once established), given the current financial picture.

 

[fgwrich]

BTP are quite variable, some are really good, others are less effective.

What doesn’t help is they are the standard go-to for a massive amount of issues, so simple reality is they can’t be everywhere.

It’s also probably the case that they’re being called to a lot more stuff nowadays compared to a generation ago, without their own numbers having been increased accordingly. Unfortunately there’s a *lot* more anti-social, drunk or just abusive behaviour going on now, and at the same time railway staff are less willing to try and deal with it themselves for various reasons.

Very much this. Despite people’s perceptions, BTP stations often cover a very large patch and with very few officers. This area (the subject of the thread) will be covered by Bristol who along with covering the railways around the city itself, and Bristol Temple Meads, will go out to Bath / Swindon, up towards Gloucester, towards Severn Tunnel Junction, across to Taunton and Westbury, often with a lot less officers than your standard home office force would parade on a daily basis. Perhaps, if the railways want more coverage from BTP without wanting to increase the forces funding, it has to accept that it needs to sort out some of the issues itself (eg Revenue) and allow BTP to prevent, reduce and investigate crime instead?

Bridgwater station is very easy to get into: no barriers and spends most of the day unstaffed, which combined with the wider town culture makes it an easy target. Can't speak for Highbridge & Burnham as I don't use it but I suspect similar exists there. Taunton station on the other hand is very well staffed and is locked for the night after the last services (when the sleeper runs someone is on duty to open gates specifically for relevant passengers).


Reminds of the troublesome Godalming gang several years ago who terrorised passengers and staff on trains in the area; Godalming is a relatively affluent area, but still not immune to troublemakers.

That sadly is part of the problem. Link it to the “Broken Window Effect” and it starts to build up. These stations are ungated, and usually with either no or few staff too who will not want to risk getting involved for fear of repercussion to themselves. Coupled to deprivation, cuts to youth services and anti social behaviour and it spirals into a large mess - one that really needs a multi agency approach to fix.

So why do we continue to be bombarded with the “See it, Say it, Sorted” aural pollution.

Because, contrary to its level of annoyance, it does actually work and is catchy to many members of the public. 61016 does manage to bring incidents to BTPs attention and can be a discrete and quick way to report crime. I will admit though that there are better ways to announce it - Chiltern has their own version which still manages to put the message across without being as repetitive though.

Fares, no. Taxes, yes.

Well, unfortunately BTPs core funding comes from the fare box and through the DfT. So if you want to see more BTP around, a fare increase is one way you’ll have to accept it. It is part of the way BTP is funded and why it, along with MOD and CNC, are not Home Office Forces.

 

[sheff1]

Because, contrary to its level of annoyance, it does actually work

If BTP don’t attend an incident as serious as the one mentioned, clearly contacting them didn’t result in it being “Sorted”.

I accept it works in some cases, but certainly not all. “Might be Sorted” is a more accurate reflection of reality.

 

[jupiter]

There’s trouble over Bridgwater.

 

[GoneSouth]

There’s trouble over Bridgwater.

When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard…

Whilst I’m quoting, maybe time to misquote Tony Blair…

Soft on crime, soft on the causes of crime.

This country needs to toughen up or it’s finished. That isn’t a quote attributed to anybody btw!

 

[Yorkshire09876]

I lived in Taunton up until 20 years ago, and coincidentally happened to visit this weekend for the first time since moving away.

I grew up there and moved away 25 years ago. Not been back for getting on for a decade now. Taunton was never a great town, and trouble in the town centre on Friday / Saturday nights was common, but it was nowhere near as bad as Bridgwater or Yeovil, both of which had 'reputations'. Sounds like Bridgwater at least hasn't changed much!

 

[deepthought]

About this time last year I had the joy of travelling on the last Taunton to Cardiff service after a day out went wrong and we just caught the last service. There were a few unpleasant people who got on at Taunton and left at Bridgwater. Someone got on at Bridgwater and was arguing with somebody already on. They left at Highbridge and were squaring up on the platform until one left on his bike. Peace until Weston-super-Mare when someone joined and had a very loud and sweary conversation about stopping one of his relatives going to batter a rival otherwise they would end up inside again. I was quite pleased when they got off at Bristol.

 

[brad465]

About this time last year I had the joy of travelling on the last Taunton to Cardiff service after a day out went wrong and we just caught the last service. There were a few unpleasant people who got on at Taunton and left at Bridgwater. Someone got on at Bridgwater and was arguing with somebody already on. They left at Highbridge and were squaring up on the platform until one left on his bike. Peace until Weston-super-Mare when someone joined and had a very loud and sweary conversation about stopping one of his relatives going to batter a rival otherwise they would end up inside again. I was quite pleased when they got off at Bristol.

More often than not these types of passengers don't actually travel far, so usually the best way to avoid them is to get on intercity services through an area where they don't call much. Of course this isn't fool-proof, I recall the final XC HST had a very disruptive passenger(s) between Taunton and Bristol that caused the service to be delayed until they were dealt with by BTP at the latter station.

 

[deepthought]

More often than not these types of passengers don't actually travel far, so usually the best way to avoid them is to get on intercity services through an area where they don't call much. Of course this isn't fool-proof, I recall the final XC HST had a very disruptive passenger(s) between Taunton and Bristol that caused the service to be delayed until they were dealt with by BTP at the latter station.

I didn't have any other option. I was with a tour group of about 30 and we got stranded in Minehead and no company in the area could provide us with a coach so we had to service bus it to Taunton and the train tickets they bought us were group tickets and we needed to be with the rep to get us taxis back to our cars/home when we got back to Cardiff 5 hours later than we should have. I would not have planned a day out like that using the last train of the day but it was the only option unfortunately. Still I got my money back from the tour operator.

 

[CC 72100]

Of course this isn't fool-proof, I recall the final XC HST had a very disruptive passenger(s) between Taunton and Bristol that caused the service to be delayed until they were dealt with by BTP at the latter station.

That was some sort of enthusiast against another enthusiast beef, which seemed to be a relative storm in a teacup and the product of immaturity on the part of the perpetrators, if the intervention by the Guard in the vehicle I was travelling in was the incident referred to above.

 

[Railcar]

Bridgwater is a very rough town with lots of deprivation

Wasn't it Paul Simon who sang about Trouble Over Bridge Water?

 

[Gloster]

Half Man Half Biscuit had an album called Trouble over Bridgwater, as @jupiter seems to be alluding to. However, they never did Taunton Riots, but at least we know the destination of the cargo of cocaine.

 

[6Gman]

Passed through Bridgwater Sta (at speed) today - windows all boarded up sadly. Is CCTV the answer?

We tried that at Bidston.

They stole the cameras.

 

[Kilopylae]

More often than not these types of passengers don't actually travel far, so usually the best way to avoid them is to get on intercity services through an area where they don't call much. Of course this isn't fool-proof, I recall the final XC HST had a very disruptive passenger(s) between Taunton and Bristol that caused the service to be delayed until they were dealt with by BTP at the latter station.

Anecdotally there's often loud and unpleasant conversations on XC between Bristol Hbf and Bristol Parkway

 

[canary fan]

Anecdotally there's often loud and unpleasant conversations on XC between Bristol Hbf and Bristol Parkway

Bristol Hbf? Are the conversations in German?

 

[GoneSouth]

Bristol Hbf? Are the conversations in German?

Understanding German with a heavy Bristol accent sounds challenging

 

[brad465]

Anecdotally there's often loud and unpleasant conversations on XC between Bristol Hbf and Bristol Parkway

Bristol Hbf? Are the conversations in German?

I looked up "Bristol HBF" and the best link seems to be "Bristol Home Builders foundation", which would be an interesting station.

My initial guess was they meant Temple Meads but it was a typo or some other error.

 

[contrex]

Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge over Troubled Water.

Whoosh!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jun 2025 ==

Bristol Hbf? Are the conversations in German?

Ja ! Die westfälischen Dialekte !

 

[thelongestroad]

I looked up "Bristol HBF" and the best link seems to be "Bristol Home Builders foundation", which would be an interesting station.

My initial guess was they meant Temple Meads but it was a typo or some other error.

HBF is the abbreviation for hauptbahnhof.

 

[jonb]

Reported that the troublesome “Bridgwater youths” have been at Weston-Super-Mare causing issues all evening, as a railway worker myself you have to feel for the staff on this section of route who seemingly put up with this on a daily basis - hopefully something can be done soon.

 

[Russel]

Reported that the troublesome “Bridgwater youths” have been at Weston-Super-Mare causing issues all evening, as a railway worker myself you have to feel for the staff on this section of route who seemingly put up with this on a daily basis - hopefully something can be done soon.

What kind of issues are they causing?