Query on revenue protection staff

[ReeceEmmitt]

Let me preface this with the statement that this is not something I would ever do, or something I have any desire to do in the future. But I'm struck by this notion.

Now and again I see revenue protection staff - 3 or 4 men usually, sometimes women, at unstaffed stations or at least, stations without barriers on the Valleys Line network. They are usually deep in conversation with some extremely upset looking traveler who they have stopped as they are leaving the station (it's an interesting cross section of who they stop, to be honest, which is neither here nor there but something that got me thinking)

Does someone have to stop for them? If someone is leaving a station and they're asked to stop - and they don't (without being physical, but just keep walking) what powers, if any, do they have to stop you? It's obviously different at manned and larger stations - but can they impel you to give them your details?

Thanks.

 

[bb21]

Section 5(2) gives the power of detention in such circumstances. Whether these powers are actually used is a different matter.

 

[Clip]

Does someone have to stop for them? If someone is leaving a station and they're asked to stop - and they don't (without being physical, but just keep walking) what powers, if any, do they have to stop you? It's obviously different at manned and larger stations - but can they impel you to give them your details?
Thanks.

bb21 has answered the stopping part and also it is an offence not to give them your name and that too. So a 2 for 1 for your troubles.

 

[Flamingo]

And if the Revenue Staff are standing in front of one and one pushes them out of the way, a common assault charge can be added as well...

 

[Clip]

And if the Revenue Staff are standing in front of one and one pushes them out of the way, a common assault charge can be added as well...

No, that wont stick because the RPIs are always rude and aggressive and it was self defence

 

[185]

Staff must be aware of well hidden hands off and walk away policies.

In First Transpennine Express' case, they claimed in court they had one 'which was talked about' which on cross examination by a judge... "yes...in that case, we don't have one, your honour". :P

 

[Andrewlong]

Why would you want to ignore a RPI or push past them?

 

[TEW]

Because they'd have you bang to rights if you stopped?

 

[Flamingo]

Why would you want to ignore a RPI or push past them?

In fairness to the OP they were at great pains to stress it wasn't something they would do or recommend...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No, that wont stick because the RPIs are always rude and aggressive and it was self defence

Of course! You forgot racist, sexist, homophobic and smelly!

 

[najaB]

Of course! You forgot racist, sexist, homophobic and smelly!

Foreign, with bad English.

 

[Merseysider]

Foreign, with bad English.

And not showing discretion...

 

[Mag_seven]

some extremely upset looking traveler who they have stopped as they are leaving the station

They tend to be "upset" because they have been caught!

 

[Flamingo]

Foreign, with bad English.

Well, in the Valleys, that means from more than ten miles away - and speaking English...

 

[Wolfie]

Foreign, with bad English.

.. or indeed, in the Valleys, English...

 

[ReeceEmmitt]

Yes - just to reiterate again, no plans to do it - and all RPI I've come into contact with have been very pleasant.
Equally - if you're not going to buy a ticket then you've got to live with the consequences.
Interesting references to legislation - a daily user of the railway and never knew that (obviously or I wouldn't have asked) that I'm sure would be somewhat different in practice (ie RPI detaining someone at an unmanned station against their will).

 

[MassDiscussion]

I hate to admit it, but they can be very intimidating. I was once followed out of the station by 5 or 6 of them. It was dark, so I was walking with my keys in between my fingers, just out of habit. They stopped me, then surrounded me. As a scrawny 8-stone girl, it was pretty terrifying.

I know, I'm a coward.

 

[najaB]

I know, I'm a coward.

No, you're not. That sounds like it wasn't pleasant at all. I hope you wrote to the TOC concerned to let them know about it.

 

[MassDiscussion]

No, you're not. That sounds like it wasn't pleasant at all. I hope you wrote to the TOC concerned to let them know about it.

This was a few years ago now, and I was in the wrong as I'd just thrown my ticket away. They took my details but I never heard anything else about it.

 

[Via Bank]

I hate to admit it, but they can be very intimidating. I was once followed out of the station by 5 or 6 of them. It was dark, so I was walking with my keys in between my fingers, just out of habit. They stopped me, then surrounded me. As a scrawny 8-stone girl, it was pretty terrifying.

I know, I'm a coward.

It's absolutely fair to think that. A few TfL plain-clothes RPOs seem to have trouble making themselves clear to people they want to inspect. Last time I was gripped at King's Cross, I initially assumed the RPO was a beggar, a ticket tout or a distraction thief.

(I actually made a complaint on the same day about two RPOs who were, I felt, unnecessarily aggressive to two foreign students—although they seemingly had valid tickets, the RPOs were demanding quite rudely to know why they hadn't stopped. Perhaps because nothing about their ID cards or the badges suggested, particularly to someone with English as a second language, "I am a ticket inspector, please show me your ticket"?)

 

[Shempz]

It's absolutely fair to think that. A few TfL plain-clothes RPOs seem to have trouble making themselves clear to people they want to inspect. Last time I was gripped at King's Cross, I initially assumed the RPO was a beggar, a ticket tout or a distraction thief.

(I actually made a complaint on the same day about two RPOs who were, I felt, unnecessarily aggressive to two foreign students—although they seemingly had valid tickets, the RPOs were demanding quite rudely to know why they hadn't stopped. Perhaps because nothing about their ID cards or the badges suggested, particularly to someone with English as a second language, "I am a ticket inspector, please show me your ticket"?)

Its amazing what can happen when English is not your first language, and you do not understand what officials are asking you to do:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...er-partially-paralyzed-after-frisk-goes-awry/