When will excessive announcements cease?

[brad465]

From the Telegraph:

My favourite joke linked to that announcement was this from Rhys James:

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

 

[bramling]

From the Telegraph:

It’s like a baby which won’t let go of its dummy. Why do we need this flaming message at all? If there’s a genuine security threat, shouldn’t people use 999 just like they would for any other emergency?

It almost feels like an abusive relationship. Think yourselves lucky you’re now only being bashed twice not 7 times, when in reality we shouldn’t be being bashed at all.

 

[johntea]

From the Telegraph:

It irritated me when I heard that on London Underground the other week, considering for much of the route you won't even have a signal in order to be able to send a text message to 61016 in the first place!

 

[Parjon]

The irony of the catchphrase is that it originated in New York, where a call to a number would result in cops turning up and (back then) dealing with whatever issue swiftly.

"LOL" is probably the best descriptor for any hope of rapid/any response over here.

They won't get rid of it because "what it?". Not "what if something could have been prevented" but "what if something happens and we get accused of being responsible because we didn't".

The country needs legal reform badly.

See it, say it... into the wind.

 

[WizCastro197]

When will such changes be implemented, and is it only to Southern service and is it only particularly to the Eastbourne /Ore to Victoria service?

Aren’t Southern in control though of how frequent the message plays, not the Government?

 

[AM9]

The country needs legal reform badly.

In your opinion, in which way is "legal reform" needed "badly".

 

[43066]

In your opinion, in which way is "legal reform" needed "badly".

I was just about to ask the same question !!!

 

[ARIC]

It’s like a baby which won’t let go of its dummy. Why do we need this flaming message at all? If there’s a genuine security threat, shouldn’t people use 999 just like they would for any other emergency?

It almost feels like an abusive relationship. Think yourselves lucky you’re now only being bashed twice not 7 times, when in reality we shouldn’t be being bashed at all.

Because the campaign isn't about how to respond to an emergency? It's come about because people are scared of reporting things they see as being small, inconsequential, non-life threating or not an obvious emergency. Someone hanging around staff doorways trying to sneak in - not an emergency. Someone talking photographs of CCTV cameras - not an emergency. Etc. Etc.

It amazes me that people want the message gone because they're fed up of hearing it, but then don't actually know what the message is actually saying, in plain English!

If you see something that appears suspicious, if it doesn't look right to you, whilst on the railway, you don't call the emergency services, you notify the people best placed to make a decision on how serious the threat is...the BTP...on 61016. It's all there.

The frequency, tone and delivery are another conversation entirely. But the point of it's existence, how is that still a topic of debate??

 

[43066]

Someone hanging around staff doorways trying to sneak in - not an emergency. Someone talking photographs of CCTV cameras - not an emergency. Etc. Etc.

Unlikely that anyone is going to notice let alone report either of those, irrespective of announcements being played.

It amazes me that people want the message gone because they're fed up of hearing it, but then don't actually know what the message is actually saying, in plain English!

It seems to me people know exactly what it’s saying, but we have now reached the point is that it’s repeated so much that people simply tune it out. Is there any actual evidence that the SSS announcement has led to an increase in useful reports/crimes solved/attacks foiled?

 

[g492p]

It’s like a baby which won’t let go of its dummy. Why do we need this flaming message at all? If there’s a genuine security threat, shouldn’t people use 999 just like they would for any other emergency?

It almost feels like an abusive relationship. Think yourselves lucky you’re now only being bashed twice not 7 times, when in reality we shouldn’t be being bashed at all.

Bashed? Rather extreme no I don’t like the “see it say it” slogan, but certainly the creation and promotion of the text number is very useful and in my view important. I’ve had BTP inform me of quite a few nasty situations transpiring on my train, that was quietly reported via 61016.

 

[jon0844]

It seems to me people know exactly what it’s saying, but we have now reached the point is that it’s repeated so much that people simply tune it out. Is there any actual evidence that the SSS announcement has led to an increase in useful reports/crimes solved/attacks foiled?

Not sure how you'd get that evidence, but people use it to report vandalism, tissue begging and other things like that.

Preventing a terror attack? Who knows. Quite possibly not, although the fact that the public should be aware of the service and can contact police discretely (and quickly) might be a small deterrent.

I don't see the problem in having this service, even if we haven't had a major terror incident for a while. If something happens, you can be sure questions will be asked about police responsiveness, and the messages will play every 15 seconds.

If plenty of people take the p*** out of the message, but ultimately remember the number, job done.

 

[Runningaround]

Because the campaign isn't about how to respond to an emergency? It's come about because people are scared of reporting things they see as being small, inconsequential, non-life threating or not an obvious emergency. Someone hanging around staff doorways trying to sneak in - not an emergency. Someone talking photographs of CCTV cameras - not an emergency. Etc. Etc.

It amazes me that people want the message gone because they're fed up of hearing it, but then don't actually know what the message is actually saying, in plain English!

If you see something that appears suspicious, if it doesn't look right to you, whilst on the railway, you don't call the emergency services, you notify the people best placed to make a decision on how serious the threat is...the BTP...on 61016. It's all there.

The frequency, tone and delivery are another conversation entirely. But the point of it's existence, how is that still a topic of debate??

Do you get Tesco or Meadowhall Shopping centre blasting it out every 7 minutes? What's wrong with a big poster with a number in every carriage? I don't hear it on buses or any government office that could be seen as targets like the railway. And as so many have tuned themselves out the message has been lost with the important ones of delays and cancellations being missed too.

 

[43066]

If plenty of people take the p*** out of the message, but ultimately remember the number, job done.

That’s a fair point - it’s clearly an effective earworm.

I’ve afraid I’ve been well and truly turned off this kind of thing by all the fear mongering we have been subjected to over the past few years!

 

[Runningaround]

Not sure how you'd get that evidence, but people use it to report vandalism, tissue begging and other things like that.

Preventing a terror attack? Who knows. Quite possibly not, although the fact that the public should be aware of the service and can contact police discretely (and quickly) might be a small deterrent.

I don't see the problem in having this service, even if we haven't had a major terror incident for a while. If something happens, you can be sure questions will be asked about police responsiveness, and the messages will play every 15 seconds.

If plenty of people take the p*** out of the message, but ultimately remember the number, job done.

So the railways using Go Compare and We Buy Any Car TV advertisements as a tactic, make something annoying and frequent that it gets remembered. I remember them and will not use them, I also use the remote when I hear them so miss anything that might be useful on the advert.
So from entering the station at start of journey to leaving many hours later after completing my return trip. I hear ''Riding of skateboards'' in two languages with ''Smoking is prohibited'' umpteen times which will then mean I wont miss the important ''Train to Cardiff is now departing platform 7''.

 

[R G NOW.]

Don't bin the, See it, Say it, Sorted one, I like that when it comes over at Gloucester, sounds like see it,say it, sorted on our tannoy here.

But it does not play so much now as it once did.

 

[jon0844]

So the railways using Go Compare and We Buy Any Car TV advertisements as a tactic, make something annoying and frequent that it gets remembered.

Yes, that's exactly it.

 

[bramling]

Not sure how you'd get that evidence, but people use it to report vandalism, tissue begging and other things like that.

Preventing a terror attack? Who knows. Quite possibly not, although the fact that the public should be aware of the service and can contact police discretely (and quickly) might be a small deterrent.

I don't see the problem in having this service, even if we haven't had a major terror incident for a while. If something happens, you can be sure questions will be asked about police responsiveness, and the messages will play every 15 seconds.

If plenty of people take the p*** out of the message, but ultimately remember the number, job done.

It makes me laugh the idea that the whole thing sounds like clockwork - just a quick text to the BTP and hey presto everything “sorted”.

As we all know, BTP are so thinly spread that the reality will be more like “see it, say it, nothing”, and of course for a genuine emergency people should be using the 999 system.

It’s just another thing to add to the whole list of rubbish which has come out of the DFT, and another example of the general lack of competence of our political system in recent years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Feb 2023 ==

I’ve afraid I’ve been well and truly turned off this kind of thing by all the fear mongering we have been subjected to over the past few years!

Quite.

 

[TUC]

Because the campaign isn't about how to respond to an emergency? It's come about because people are scared of reporting things they see as being small, inconsequential, non-life threating or not an obvious emergency. Someone hanging around staff doorways trying to sneak in - not an emergency. Someone talking photographs of CCTV cameras - not an emergency. Etc. Etc.

It amazes me that people want the message gone because they're fed up of hearing it, but then don't actually know what the message is actually saying, in plain English!

If you see something that appears suspicious, if it doesn't look right to you, whilst on the railway, you don't call the emergency services, you notify the people best placed to make a decision on how serious the threat is...the BTP...on 61016. It's all there.

The frequency, tone and delivery are another conversation entirely. But the point of it's existence, how is that still a topic of debate??

People regard it as an irritation to be ignored because you don't hear such announcements when you go to the supermarket, so why would anyone be interested in taking any particular note in what happens around them at a station?

 

[Runningaround]

Yes, that's exactly it.

Don't they know technology has moved on and its easier to avoid or ignore what you don't want to hear. I just turn over, pause or record and fast forward so IF anything was worth listening with those or other adverts they are now missed, just like the important announcements, works with signs too, to much rubbish and the important stuff gets missed.

 

[jon0844]

Don't they know technology has moved on and its easier to avoid or ignore what you don't want to hear. I just turn over, pause or record and fast forward so IF anything was worth listening with those or other adverts they are now missed, just like the important announcements, works with signs too, to much rubbish and the important stuff gets missed.

For TV, I don't watch adverts at all because 99% of my TV watching is catch-up or streamed, but I am not sure anyone has found a way to skip announcements on public transport.

The principle is sound, just as staff are always being reminded of various protocols (e.g. HOT, WHAT etc).

 

[leytongabriel]

Not sure how you'd get that evidence, but people use it to report vandalism, tissue begging and other things like that.

Preventing a terror attack? Who knows. Quite possibly not, although the fact that the public should be aware of the service and can contact police discretely (and quickly) might be a small deterrent.

I don't see the problem in having this service, even if we haven't had a major terror incident for a while. If something happens, you can be sure questions will be asked about police responsiveness, and the messages will play every 15 seconds.

If plenty of people take the p*** out of the message, but ultimately remember the number, job done.

Don't think they do remember the number that well. I can't. You remember the beginnings and ends of things so its the 'See it,say it,sorted' bit that sticks.

 

[AM9]

Don't think they do remember the number that well. I can't. You remember the beginnings and ends of things so its the 'See it,say it,sorted' bit that sticks.

Well if the message is repeated as often as some here imply, there won't be a long wait before they can hear it again and make that call.

 

[bramling]

Well if the message is repeated as often as some here imply, there won't be a long wait before they can hear it again and make that call.

Could they not look for a sign on the wall, indeed the obvious place is on the safety notices which are now found in every train carriage.

Meanwhile, let’s imagine I’m on the Northern Line, I’ve seen something which I don’t think looks right, and I happen to hear the message and remember the number as the train passes through Belsize Park heading south. How exactly am I going to “say it” given there’s no mobile signal (for the time being at least)? And of course this doesn’t deal with the issue that the industry has enough trouble summoning BTP for stuff as a result of them being so thinly spread, so chances are most of the time even if you can get the message to send you will have wasted a minute of your life.

It really does amount to abuse subjecting everyone to this rubbish. Just another way of the government debasing the population.

 

[AM9]

Could they not look for a sign on the wall, indeed the obvious place is on the safety notices which are now found in every train carriage.

Not much help for those with poor eyesight or blind, - that's one of the main reasons why there are audio announcements in the first place.
As far as difficulties using a phone on LU, this thread is about all UK rail announcements. Even in the London area, most national rail is above ground so that is a niche issue.

 

[bramling]

Not much help for those with poor eyesight or blind, - that's one of the main reasons why there are audio announcements in the first place.

The standard thing which gets trotted out any time announcements are criticised. I find it rather condescending to take the view that people with such issues are incapable of seeking out information. Real-time is one thing, but the see it say it sorted certainly doesn’t fall in that category.

Do we need announcements broadcast on a loud hailer in every single place accessible to the general public to advise people to dial 999 if they need an ambulance?

As far as difficulties using a phone on LU, this thread is about all UK rail announcements. Even in the London area, most national rail is above ground so that is a niche issue.

Oh dear, my phone battery has died, won’t be saying it then either - and on something like a 700 there’s no facility for standard class passengers to charge it (except in declassified first, of course…).

 

[dm1]

Not much help for those with poor eyesight or blind, - that's one of the main reasons why there are audio announcements in the first place.

I question how someone who is blind is going to "see it"...

A discreet sticker by the window would be more than sufficient, as was the case for a long time before those announcements became so common. Mind you, I do take issue with that announcement in particular, as it ingrains the sentiment that public transport is inherently dangerous, whereas in reality it is almost always safer than whatever the alternatives would be.

 

[Tracked]

Doncaster has now lost manual announcements, and the auto ones are a complete overload, after every train announcement there is a tactile paving announcement, then in addition to that for LNER trains there is an announcement about generous luggage space underneath your seat, then the automated usuals aswell, the station is now constant announcements

Responded to something over this in January, hadn't really noticed at the time as I was getting back to my local station so was turning up just before the train was due to leave. Have used it a few times this week and ended up arriving maybe 15-30 minutes before my train - depending on breakfast needs! - so I had time to notice, and it was really bad.

Even last Sunday, I was getting the 09:30 diverted XC service but was a bit early, and despite there not being many trains at that time the announcements were still managing to be nearly constant. Any gaps between service announcements were filled with the Security/Platform Edging/No Cycling/Industrial Action/etc ... messages, while LNER trains got the full "zone 1-4 for second class, zone 5 for bikes, zone 6 ... " lists as well as destinations, catering, generic apologies for lateness ...

Rest of the week it was just as constant, but obviously more to do with the actual services.

There was also a manual announcement on Wednesday morning, think it was for a platform change.

 

[WY Bus Spotter]

I had a conductor make the announcement 'Northern tickets are not valid on this service' a grand total of 7 times just between Leeds and Dewsbury last week on a TPE service to Liverpool Lime Street!

Though I have no doubt that he still came across someone with a Northern ticket.

 

[Krokodil]

I had a conductor make the announcement 'Northern tickets are not valid on this service' a grand total of 7 times just between Leeds and Dewsbury last week on a TPE service to Liverpool Lime Street!

Though I have no doubt that he still came across someone with a Northern ticket.

I swear that the last time I made such an announcement, I ended up with more invalid tickets than on the previous day when I didn't bother.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

These announcements have been a problem since I was a child and the Desiros were first introduced. I remember my Dad in his final years of his old commuting loathing the change to frequent, automated announcements from that of a 4-CEP/VEP

I think, to be honest, it depends on what the voice of the announcer is like. I could listen to the Celia Drummond Northern Line announcements all day, and Emma Clarke's voice on the Central Line could read out the dictionary for my whole journey and I'd be more than pleased. Anyone else, such as the voice on the sub surface lines, tends to do my head in.