Warning Issued To Parents Over Fears Easing Lockdown Will Spark Surge In Railway Trespass

A warning has been issued to parents in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire over fears easing latest lockdown restrictions will spark a surge in railway trespass incidents involving children.

British Transport Police and Network Rail are urging them to emphasise the dangers of youngsters playing around railway lines, while a hard-hitting safety film is also set to be shown in schools this week to force home the message.

It comes as social distancing restrictions introduced as part of England’s third national coronavirus lockdown at the start of the year are set to be eased in the coming weeks.

The concern is compounded by upcoming Easter school holiday, the clocks going forward on March 28 and the evenings getting lighter.

The move follows the release of new data showing a “shocking” 100 per cent increase in trespass incidents when the first national lockdown was eased last July – although, of course, that’s when Leicester itself became the first city to be subjected to a local lockdown.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The figures show that there were 108 reported trespass incidents between July and December 2020 across our East Midlands route.

“This is double the number of incidents for the same period in 2019.”

Superintendent Alison Evans, British Transport Police, said the pandemic has made it harder than usual to get the safety message across to children directly.

“We often warn families at this time of year as the evenings get lighter and children prepare to enjoy school holiday.

“However, this year our concerns are more acute, especially as we are not able to get into schools ourselves to pass this message onto children directly.”