Friday 19th October 2012

British Transport Police (BTP) has condemned the actions of a "reckless and irresponsible" man who trespassed near the railway line in Pinxton in Derbyshire with two small children in tow.

Police have today released CCTV footage (above) in a bid to identify the man, highlight the dangers of the railway and warn that some people are still risking their lives, and the lives of others, by trespassing on the railway lines.

Inspector Granville Sellers, of British Transport Police, said: "I am genuinely shocked to see, that despite our constant warnings about the risk and dangers, some people still are willing to risk their lives by trespassing on the tracks. Not only that, this footage clearly shows that the man pictured had complete disregard for the safety of others as he led two young children across as well."

He was caught on camera climbing up the embankment, with the children, next to a busy live railway line near the Old Conveyor in Pinxton on Sunday, 14th October at 3pm.

Insp Sellers added: "I cannot emphasise enough the dangers associated with this type of mindless behaviour. The railway is an inherently dangerous environment, with high speed trains and electric currents, and it should never be treated as somewhere to explore or use as a short cut.

"Trains can travel at speeds of over 100 miles an hour on railway lines, they cannot swerve and can take upto the length of a football pitch to stop.

"This man was extremely lucky that a train was not passing through the area at the time of the incident or the consequences could have been unthinkable. Parents and adults should be leading by example, taking responsibility and emphasising the dangers to children and young people."

Richard Pedley, Community Safety Manager for Network Rail said: "We regularly see people risking their lives in this area by trespassing onto the tracks.

"These images are particularly worrying as an adult is with the children and encouraging this reckless behaviour. Rail tracks are not safe if you are not trained to be there and should never be used as a short cut; the few minutes you save could end up costing you serious injury - or even your life."

Anyone with any information relating to this, or any trespass incident on the railway network, is asked to please contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 405040, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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