Rail Neighbourhood Officer

[elementalpat]

Bit of an interesting job title, trying to making it sound more flashy I suppose!!

I am trying to understand this role better and reading all the info on the Southern website and my interpretation is this.

1. Revenue protection, but more enforcement based.

2. BTP based role, but I guess not as many powers as a BTP officer.

3. Helping customers out.

4. Plain clothers survellance work (not sure why)


Seems like an interesting mix of roles. Still mulling weather to go for it cos there are dangers like in any enforcement role!

Any further information on this type of role would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Stigy]

As with a few TOCs now, Southern has gone down the road of having Accredited Persons. SET and SWT, as well as few others have Accredited Persons now. Basically you'll have certain police powers, as well as the standard TOC powers of enforcing railway Byelaws and other legislation. I am an Accredited Person for a TOC and quite enjoy it. We get the usual jaunts about being plastic policemen etc, but hey ho!

It's on a par with a PCSO I guess, although with more power arguably. The powers differ from TOC to TOC, but you'll generally be able to issue Penalty notices for Disorder (PND) for certain low level disorder such as Trespass on the Railway and Public Order offences, as the BTP have, I believe Southern also issue Penalty Fares too. It's not a bad job and it looks more risky than it actually is. A lot depends on whether the TOC is 'Hands on' or 'no touch' as to how fruity it can get, but a lot comes down to personal work ethic. You'll have the dead wood that want an easy life, or the ones (much like me) that want to make the job worthwhile. As long as you're sensible, it's a safe job. As rail jobs go though, probably not the most secure!

 

[185]

I'm not with Southern, but I'm now accredited, as of last week. Most of the additional legwork in the course was to do with fixed penalties, PACE, understanding and interpreting the law, the justice system, working alongside the police, managing emergencies and a very high graded CRB check. Was a lot to take in but passed both the exams.

In addition to ordinary revenue protection duties, there is now technically the power to issue fixed penalties for mostly disorder, although generally that does not happen. Our operator also does plain clothes operations which is welcomed by many staff as a shortcut to the boozer after work.

 

[Stigy]

Just to add, the vetting is on a par with that of a Police Officer and most other Police Staff. When I was first accredited the checks consisted of family checks as well as criminal record checks. We were recently re-accredited as has to happen from time to time, and they now also vet you financially and do a credit check on you. These checks are done by BTP themselves, or the relevant force that is applicable. For the railway it'll be BTP (Accreditation is under the Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme) but those accredited and working under local Government (Accredited under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme) will be vetted their specific county force.

 

[TOCRecruit]

I would place the 'customer service' part of your understanding of the job role at the top of the list. These roles are about revenue, but also highly focused on giving customers who aren't 'up to no good', for want of a better phrase, a good journey.