Hey all
A little while ago i signed a petiton at the No 10 Downing Street Website about the continuing harrasment of rail enthusiasts by station staff despite clear information being given.
I have today received a response that is as usual the same olf we "take this seriously" type guff
Anyway heres the link
http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20242
Anf if that doesnt work heres the full details and response
Petition ResponsesThursday 6 August 2009
Railenthusiasts - epetition response
We received a petition asking:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to end the routine harassment of railway enthusiasts, especially those taking photographs, on security grounds and to replace the presumption of guilt implicit in the Association of Train Operating Companies/Network Rail/British Transport Police Guidelines for Rail Enthusiasts with an instruction to staff not to challenge individuals whose activities clearly constitute neither a threat to security nor the safe functioning of railway premises.
Details of Petition:
The Guidelines for Rail Enthusiasts promoted by the Association of Train Operating Companies, Network Rail and the British Transport Police require enthusiasts to sign in before spending leisure time at railway stations. These guidelines, which place the onus on the individual to prove that he or she is not a threat rather than on railway professionals to prove he or she is, have led to considerable conflict between railway enthusiasts and often poorly trained staff, take little account of the behaviour of enthusiasts, are highly unlikely to offer any real protection against terrorism and only serve to alienate the industrys natural allies.
Read the Governments response
There has been no change in the law either to limit the activities of railway enthusiasts or to ban railway photography. Railway enthusiasts are, of course, subject to the same rules as anyone else using the railway and so must not, for example, trespass on parts of the railway that are not open to the general public.
Network Rail, most train operators and the British Transport Police nevertheless all have policies in place that recognise the security benefits that the presence of enthusiasts can bring to the railway. The Government, too, recognises this and agrees that extra security at stations should not prevent enthusiasts from pursuing their legitimate interests. Enthusiasts are asked to make their presence known to station staff where this is practical but this is a reasonable request and one that can readily be complied with. It is designed specifically to avoid the sort of confrontation described in the petition.
There may be occasions when staff seek to remove enthusiasts nonetheless. Where there are good reasons for this, for example when there is a particular security threat, the staff concerned should be ready and able to explain the reasons. Otherwise, both Network Rail and the British Transport Police provide a summary of their relevant policies on their website and recommend that enthusiasts take a copy to show staff should they be challenged.
<<<
In other words we dont necessarily like the way that staff have been interpreting the existing rules but we will not create a standard set of rules that ALL have to follow
Cant dsay i expectyed much to be fair.
Bring on the election.
A little while ago i signed a petiton at the No 10 Downing Street Website about the continuing harrasment of rail enthusiasts by station staff despite clear information being given.
I have today received a response that is as usual the same olf we "take this seriously" type guff
Anyway heres the link
http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20242
Anf if that doesnt work heres the full details and response
Petition ResponsesThursday 6 August 2009
Railenthusiasts - epetition response
We received a petition asking:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to end the routine harassment of railway enthusiasts, especially those taking photographs, on security grounds and to replace the presumption of guilt implicit in the Association of Train Operating Companies/Network Rail/British Transport Police Guidelines for Rail Enthusiasts with an instruction to staff not to challenge individuals whose activities clearly constitute neither a threat to security nor the safe functioning of railway premises.
Details of Petition:
The Guidelines for Rail Enthusiasts promoted by the Association of Train Operating Companies, Network Rail and the British Transport Police require enthusiasts to sign in before spending leisure time at railway stations. These guidelines, which place the onus on the individual to prove that he or she is not a threat rather than on railway professionals to prove he or she is, have led to considerable conflict between railway enthusiasts and often poorly trained staff, take little account of the behaviour of enthusiasts, are highly unlikely to offer any real protection against terrorism and only serve to alienate the industrys natural allies.
Read the Governments response
There has been no change in the law either to limit the activities of railway enthusiasts or to ban railway photography. Railway enthusiasts are, of course, subject to the same rules as anyone else using the railway and so must not, for example, trespass on parts of the railway that are not open to the general public.
Network Rail, most train operators and the British Transport Police nevertheless all have policies in place that recognise the security benefits that the presence of enthusiasts can bring to the railway. The Government, too, recognises this and agrees that extra security at stations should not prevent enthusiasts from pursuing their legitimate interests. Enthusiasts are asked to make their presence known to station staff where this is practical but this is a reasonable request and one that can readily be complied with. It is designed specifically to avoid the sort of confrontation described in the petition.
There may be occasions when staff seek to remove enthusiasts nonetheless. Where there are good reasons for this, for example when there is a particular security threat, the staff concerned should be ready and able to explain the reasons. Otherwise, both Network Rail and the British Transport Police provide a summary of their relevant policies on their website and recommend that enthusiasts take a copy to show staff should they be challenged.
<<<
In other words we dont necessarily like the way that staff have been interpreting the existing rules but we will not create a standard set of rules that ALL have to follow
Cant dsay i expectyed much to be fair.
Bring on the election.
