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Sleeping at the station
- Thread starter railler
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EM2
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If they refuse to leave, BTP can be called and they can be forcibly removed.
They'll probably just leave them but could call police if necessary.
Definitely won't just leave them. If they refuse to move then the police will be called, as mentioned above.
When a station closes for the night, is it necessary to empty the station, or you don't have to force everyone to leave if they don't want to?
I am thinking that the unmanned closed station cannot have someone inside as he may damage the station or he may not be safe if something happens to him. But I want to know, is it tube station staff's duty to empty the station? And if someone resists, what is the procedure?
I am thinking that the unmanned closed station cannot have someone inside as he may damage the station or he may not be safe if something happens to him. But I want to know, is it tube station staff's duty to empty the station? And if someone resists, what is the procedure?
Which is a completely different situation to locking and securing at night.
My question is, if the sleeping person says that he doesn't have elsewhere to stay, how does the staff deal with it? Is there a solution to the problem or they just don't care and call the police? For example, does the staff help him find somewhere to stay or something? Do they just tell him to go to a park or in the streets something?
EM2
Established Member
The staff have no duty to care for an adult who is of sound mind and able to make their own decisions.
If a person who is asked to leave refuses to do so, then they are trespassing, so it's now a matter for the police.
Staff may have details of hostels or charities, and can supply this if they wish, but have no obligation to do so.
It's not their problem. I don't really like this idea that if someone decides to drag themselves on to your premises their problems suddenly become yours. Loitering is an offence and if they won't go quietly it'll be a case of being dragged off by a constable. You can't fight everyone's battles and certainly in my area the local homeless didn't bother the station staff by loitering when not welcome because we knew the genuine cases and used to quietly look after them in other ways. Any that caused offence we made their lives difficult.
How do you look after genuine cases?
Yes my mistake, I misread it.
I thought he was referring to the Fri/Sat night 24 hour stations. No obviously staff wouldn't leave them if the station is closing
!Yes my mistake, I misread it.
I thought he was referring to the Fri/Sat night 24 hour stations. No obviously staff wouldn't leave them if the station is closing
Thanks but my question is how do you approach such people.
How do you convince them it is not safe/right to stay and what alternatives do you give them if they have nowhere else to stay?
theblackwatch
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You let them make their own alternatives. For example, they could join the rest of the cardboard box brigade in a shop doorway. What would you do if someone dedided to camp out in your garden?
You say 'sorry, you can't stay here, you'll have to move on' and the ones that are going to move on will be quite used to it and clear off.
The ones that aren't you give a polite warning to and then call the police out to remove them.
You don't convince them and you don't give them alternatives - they will already know them.
We used to help in little ways, like letting them have a warm first thing on cold days before the main passenger flow arrives on strict understanding they didn't make a mess and would clear off at an agreed time, or turn a blind eye to them having a wash in the toilets at quiet times.
You can't have them getting comfortable or trying to sleep there though - it doesn't work out.
I would imagine just politely tell them that station is closing? If they become awkward and refuse to leave then call the police and let them deal with it.
Oh course it's ok to tell them. Unless they were particularly awkward or the staff feared for their safety and kept away from them.
Busaholic
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Every situation is different, because every human being is different, but this is how I would basically like to approach it if possible:-
'Hello! I think you ought to know that the station is about to close for the night, and I'm afraid that means you're going to have to leave, as it's my job to make sure no-one's left on the station before I lock up. I'll give you five minutes to get yourself together, then I'll come back and check. Is that okay?'
Anything after that would depend on the response/non-response, but I'd bet 90% of the time that would do the trick. I speak with experience of working for London Transport, a Local Authority Housing Department and the Probation Service (in that order), as well as voluntary work with Shelter. I'm assuming here that someone who'd been there for some time exhibiting very disturbed or psychotic behaviour would not just have been left by the station staff until the station closing time anyway.
'Hello! I think you ought to know that the station is about to close for the night, and I'm afraid that means you're going to have to leave, as it's my job to make sure no-one's left on the station before I lock up. I'll give you five minutes to get yourself together, then I'll come back and check. Is that okay?'
Anything after that would depend on the response/non-response, but I'd bet 90% of the time that would do the trick. I speak with experience of working for London Transport, a Local Authority Housing Department and the Probation Service (in that order), as well as voluntary work with Shelter. I'm assuming here that someone who'd been there for some time exhibiting very disturbed or psychotic behaviour would not just have been left by the station staff until the station closing time anyway.
I now know why you're asking all these questions, because you failed some role plays. All I can say is that what you say isn't necessarily wrong but the way you say it plays a big part in it. Don't assume what anyone is up to and don't stereotype them, remain friendly, stay calm, put yourself in their shoes and try to help them out. Give them the info they need and have a chat with them. Everyone will come away happier and you have hopefully resolved the issue.
Likewise
All persons must leave the station. At sub-surface (underground) stations the station will not have enough staff to allow customers to remain on the station, this is a legal requirement. There may also be work taking place which cannot be done with random people wondering around. Station staff may also not be monitoring all areas of the station overnight, for example fire alarms are often isolated to allow for works to take place.
No LU managed stations are scheduled to be unstaffed overnight, there is at least one member of staff on rostered to be on duty at all LU managed stations 24/7, except at Christmas.railler said:
I was surprised to turn up at Chorleywood station at a very dark hour to see it locked up but with a security guard inside with us both giving each other curious looks some years ago.
You say all LU stations are manned 24/7. Does this include stations with NR interchanges? Are they all locked up (the whole station) after the end of service?
You say all LU stations are manned 24/7. Does this include stations with NR interchanges? Are they all locked up (the whole station) after the end of service?
The stations are all staffed by LU staff, a Supervisor or Manager (or at some stations both) is on duty overnight not security guards; London Underground does not use contract security guards since last year, and then they were only to provide cover at the ex-Silverlink stations.
They will only be responsible for securing their own bit of the station, the stations are classed separately and will all have their own gates, even at places like Euston where it is only possible for the public to enter/exit via Network Rail property. The exceptions are places like Barking, which is managed by c2c (although there will be a manager responsible for train crew on duty overnight), and Heathrow T5 (the LU Supervisor leaves on the last empty train), although to complicate further Ealing Broadway has a single supervisor on duty 24/7 even though the station is managed by GWR.
They will only be responsible for securing their own bit of the station, the stations are classed separately and will all have their own gates, even at places like Euston where it is only possible for the public to enter/exit via Network Rail property. The exceptions are places like Barking, which is managed by c2c (although there will be a manager responsible for train crew on duty overnight), and Heathrow T5 (the LU Supervisor leaves on the last empty train), although to complicate further Ealing Broadway has a single supervisor on duty 24/7 even though the station is managed by GWR.
When a station is closed it means its closed. Why do you think people should be allowed to stay? Suggest you look up the dictionary definition of the word closed! When a shop closes do you think people should be allowed to stay if they don't want to leave? There really is nothing to debate here!
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What sort of duties do they have? Are there official opening/closing times for the general public?
bluegoblin7
Established Member
Booking contractors on and off, carrying out tests of emergency equipment, checking the stocks and 'use by' dates of emergency equipment, floating & servicing ticket machines.
It differs from night to night and station to station but generally the above is a rough overview.
Stations close after the passage of the last passenger train when all those alighting are clear. They generally open 10-15 minutes prior to the first train (again, differs station to station) to allow time for people to purchase tickets etc.
Mutant Lemming
Established Member
In days of old tipping some of the contents of a fire bucket (the ones with water in them) used to encourage the blighters to shift - highly 'not allowed' in these more 'enlightened' times I'm sure.
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