See it. Say it. Sorted.

[Allwinter_Kit]

I travel a lot and have utterly tuned out "If you see something that doesn't look right, tell a member of staff or text the British Transport Police on 61016. See it, say it and we'll sort it." But it's no more irritating than being told that the train at platform 8 is "an LNER Azuma service" or that "luggage left unattended may be taken or destroyed by the security services". It's just part of the sonic backdrop of modern railway travel - and it has worked, in that I can now produce the announcement verbatim so in the event of something happening I now know who to text.

We have far too many pointless and repetitive announcements on the railway, but the opprobium loaded onto this relatively catchy safety phrase does seem a little much. Being told that my train is an Azuma (what a surprise!), that "due to today's inclement weather I should take extra care" or that I shouldn't leave belongings behind or that I should hold onto the handrail of an escalator are far more irritating to me as there isn't even a nugget of useful information in there to parse.

 

[Bikeman78]

How could you possibly know that "the police are very unlikely to even bother turning up if you text them" if you've never tried?

My dealings with the police are very limited, all non railway. They have always been totally uninterested. I doubt BTP are any better. I'm only likely to contact the police on a train if I see someone being seriously assaulted or worse. I would then dial 999, not send a text.

 

[physics34]

I don't think anyone is complaining about the 61016 announcements, they don't take long and may help save a life. It's the tedious to the point of infuriating "see it say it sod it" ones that make people lose the will to live.

When I was working for the Connex Information manager they used to talk about not making announcements that have a negative connotation to them.... otherwise it makes it sound like our railways are crime ridden.. (they are getting like that).

Its the same with 'the lifts aren't working at xxxxx'.
It gives you negative vibes about the railway.

 

[contrex]

I always associate the word "sorted" with drug-related songs like The Shamen's "Ebeneezer Goode" and Pulp's "Sorted For Es and Wizz" so it's always seemed inappropriate to hear it on a train!

I really don't like the modern informal use of 'sort' to mean 'accomplish', 'complete', 'deal with', etc. My neighbour said her husband gets the kids up while she 'sorts breakfast'.

 

[ThisIsSurbiton]

I really don't like the modern informal use of 'sort' to mean 'accomplish', 'complete', 'deal with', etc.

I don't either - at least when announced by a voice artist or old thesp on a train. It sounds wrong. No problem with stopping the announcement after the 61016 - I'm sure it's very useful and I have it in my phone ready to text if necessary. It's all the other rubbish I can do without - hello SWR

 

[Lockwood]

I have been told by someone "In the know" that people will also text 61016 for incidents off of the railway, where they have not been able to speak for various reasons. BTP then pass the incident over to the relevant Home Office force.

That does indicate that people are making note of the system and using it

 

[Yorkshire09876]

No. Just no.

It’s an appalling campaign slogan: it isn’t clear when said if it is “sort it” (ie the person who sees it should sort it - don’t really want that) or “sorted”.

It’s a blatant misuse of the PA system too - if you’re doing such a campaign do it with posters/digital media - it is just more “ear spam” as an announcement.

It needs binning now and rapidly.

Not to mention that a handful of BTP officers are likely to be covering a wide area and they might be miles away, so whether there will be anyone available to 'sort it' is often highly questionable!

 

[saismee]

I have been told by someone "In the know" that people will also text 61016 for incidents off of the railway, where they have not been able to speak for various reasons. BTP then pass the incident over to the relevant Home Office force.

That does indicate that people are making note of the system and using it

Isn't that exactly what 101 is for? I know a lot of people don't know that 101 even exists.

 

[The exile]

It really depends on your location. In Norwich I left for lunch for 5 minutes and when I got back there was chaos with paramedics and BTP attending a drunk and disorderly woman who had passed out. I'd imagine at stations without constant BTP presence they'd take upwards of 30 minutes to arrive.

Can confirm that when some idiot couldn’t be bothered to use the subway at Bath Soa a couple of months ago there was no police presence for a considerable period if time. Annoyingly, what passes for Bath Police Station is less than 2 minutes’ gentle stroll away.

 

[43066]

Isn't that exactly what 101 is for? I know a lot of people don't know that 101 even exists.

No, because 101 requires making a voice call, which may not be possible “in the moment”.

It’s clear that many of those criticising 61016 don’t actually understand the purpose of the system.

 

[High Dyke]

Even heard the announcement on the Northern Line tube yesterday, whilst travelling from Oval station to King's Cross. Admittedly, the announcement was only played once.

The only peeve I have is the correct pronunciation. It is 'six-one-zero-one-six'. It's is not 6-1-oh-1-6.

 

[The exile]

The only peeve I have is the correct pronunciation. It is 'six-one-zero-one-six'. It's is not 6-1-oh-1-6.

It’s a phone number… About the only time I’ve ever heard people use zero in phone numbers is when there’s a sequence of them.

 

[styles]

"Zero eight hundred double zero ten sixty six", doesn't have the same ring to it eh.

 

[FrontSideBus]

I hate that phrase tbh, every time I hear it I have to grate my teeth lol.

 

[Deepgreen]

Older readers may remember 61016 as "Inyala" (an African antelope).

A 'B1"?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jul 2025 ==

The whole saga of this phrase has been covered in huge depth already, but it becomes more and more obvious that, if opinions here from the mixture of staff, enthusiasts and 'normal' passengers are any guide, the use of the 'slogan' has been very unpopular, and, more importantly, probably very ineffective. This is because few people seem to remember the number anyway (as they tend to tune out when it plays) and the plethora of announcements is ever-increasing, and, in doing so, makes each one a little less likely to be taken in (and probably makes more and more people use headphones to get some solace). It is self-defeating.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

It has always bothered me that 61016 is read in announcements as `Six One-Oh One-Six` because surely, surely, the intention of the number choice in the first place was to associate it with the police non-emergency number 101 and therefore it should be read as `Six One-Oh-One Six`. I feel certain it would have been more memorable pronounced that way and that was probably the original intention, but got lost somewhere along the way.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It has always bothered me that 61016 is read in announcements as `Six One-Oh One-Six` because surely, surely, the intention of the number choice in the first place was to associate it with the police non-emergency number 101 and therefore it should be read as `Six One-Oh-One Six`. I feel certain it would have been more memorable pronounced that way and that was probably the original intention, but got lost somewhere along the way.

A lot of the time when they do announce it this way, the "oh" sounds very much like an "eight"; saying "zero" is much clearer.

...at least for those who actually still listen to it.

 

[brad465]

"Just a reminder that when we asked you to report something that doesn't look right, we meant terrorist stuff, not just a baby wearing ripped jeans." - Rhys James

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Given the paucity of BTP officers perhaps the message should actually be changed to dissuade people from contacting them for trivial reasons? Something like “If you see something that doesn’t look right, ask yourself “Is this really a big deal?” Is there a rational explanation?” Please only contact British Transport Police on 60106 for serious issues.”

 

[Lockwood]

Isn't that exactly what 101 is for? I know a lot of people don't know that 101 even exists.

No.

101 is a non-emergency number that you talk to. I do not believe it is set up for SMS.


The scenario I am describing is texting "I am at 123 High Street, Sometown. I am hiding in a cupboard. I am afraid for my life. I am too scared to make a sound." to 61016

 

[Krokodil]

101 is a non-emergency number that you talk to. I do not believe it is set up for SMS.

If you've registered 999 is set up for SMS.

 

[saismee]

The scenario I am describing is texting "I am at 123 High Street, Sometown. I am hiding in a cupboard. I am afraid for my life. I am too scared to make a sound." to 61016

As @Krokodil mentioned, that's absolutely a 999 matter. Someone else said that 61016 is supposed to be a similar number to 101, so I wonder why it's completely different to use.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you've registered 999 is set up for SMS.

For clarity, to register you text 999 with the word "register" (no quotes). Surprises me that you have to, but maybe they feel they'd get too many "pocket texts" or prank ones. Anyone who ever spends time, particularly doing risky stuff like hillwalking/climbing, in places where there is poor signal, would be very strongly recommended to register.

 

[Lewisham2221]

As @Krokodil mentioned, that's absolutely a 999 matter. Someone else said that 61016 is supposed to be a similar number to 101, so I wonder why it's completely different to use.

It may well be a 999 matter, but I would guess that far more people are aware of 61016 than are aware of any facility to text 999 or any "silent" 999 call protocols. It's hardly a bad thing if someone who feels they will put themselves in further danger by making a 999 call is able to get help by texting 61016, regardless of if the incident is not on the railway and/or should warrant a 999 call

 

[Lockwood]

I am aware you can register to text 999.

But, that's an extra step you have to take.

Anyone who has taken a train has heard that you can text police on 61016. No registration, just text and they'll sort it.


And that isn't a hypothetical - people DO text emergencies outside of BTPland to 61016. However annoying the announcements may be, they work.

 

[High Dyke]

It has always bothered me that 61016 is read in announcements as `Six One-Oh One-Six` because surely, surely, the intention of the number choice in the first place was to associate it with the police non-emergency number 101 and therefore it should be read as `Six One-Oh-One Six`. I feel certain it would have been more memorable pronounced that way and that was probably the original intention, but got lost somewhere along the way.

Indeed, but how many times have you heard the police number as one-oh-one? Perhaps it was the intention, as you mention.

 

[styles]

It has always bothered me that 61016 is read in announcements as `Six One-Oh One-Six` because surely, surely, the intention of the number choice in the first place was to associate it with the police non-emergency number 101 and therefore it should be read as `Six One-Oh-One Six`. I feel certain it would have been more memorable pronounced that way and that was probably the original intention, but got lost somewhere along the way.

It's never even crossed my mind that the 101 in the middle of 61016 might be some harking towards the police non-emergency number.

I'm not sure it really matters whether passengers decipher this (assuming it was ever intentional) or not. What matters is they remember the number which appears to be well-used so it can't be a terrible campaign.

 

[Lockwood]

This is where the underground's announcement makes it clearer, I guess.

Instead of six one zero one six, you get told six-one oh one-six

 

[Bikeman78]

No.

101 is a non-emergency number that you talk to. I do not believe it is set up for SMS.


The scenario I am describing is texting "I am at 123 High Street, Sometown. I am hiding in a cupboard. I am afraid for my life. I am too scared to make a sound." to 61016

Most people have smart phones so they could search how to contact police by text. Hiding in a cupboard with a basic mobile but also being a rail user is starting to sound a bit unlikely.
I would prefer posters to announcements every few minutes.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Just heard ‘do not attempt to board all our trains if you hear the door alarm sounding’ at Willesden Junction Station.

So, just board one, ok

It grates on me that it should say any of not all