In response to a rising number of trespass and anti-social behaviour incidents on Britain’s railways, train operators, Network Rail, and British Transport Police (BTP) are increasing patrols and taking measures to reduce crime and protect people on train journeys.

Incidents often rise during the summer months, with 287 incidents recorded on the Southern network in November and December 2025, compared with 398 incidents reported during July and August 2025.

A new safety campaign started on Monday, 10th August, and on the first day, British Transport Police officers apprehended a suspect involved in a cable theft in June.

Officers identified him with the help of Network Rail staff and station CCTV, and he was arrested after he was seen walking through the station.

To help deter crime and support railway staff, train operator GTR has invested £2.5 million in Travel Safe Officers as part of an Anti-Social Behaviour Improvement Plan.

Other measures are also being increased to keep people safe on and around the railway in Sussex and south London, including:

• British Transport Police are patrolling parts of the network known to be anti-social behaviour and crime hotspots.
• Steps are being taken to make it easier for people to report incidents of trespassing or concerns about the welfare of fellow passengers.
• Talking to members of the public about what to do if they see a trespasser or vulnerable person.
• Using drones to locate and identify people misusing or trespassing on the railway.

Network Rail is also issuing a toolkit for the rail industry to raise public awareness about the dangers of trespassing.

In September, statutory rail safety education is being introduced into schools in England, with Network Rail making suitable resources for younger people, including educational videos, classroom posters, and learning posters, available on its ‘Switched On’ website.

Someone who experienced the danger of trespassing is Dinusha Ilanperuma from Surrey, who was coming home from a party in 2016 when she stepped onto the tracks to retrieve one of her shoes.

As she climbed back onto the platform, she made contact with the electrified rail, was electrocuted, and suffered catastrophic injuries.

In hospital, she underwent skin grafts for third-degree burns on her left arm, back, and foot.

A single incident of trespassing can cost Network Rail over £500,000 in delay minutes.

“Trespass and concern for welfare incidents are among the biggest causes of delays across our route and our priority is always to keep people safe while minimising disruption to customers. That’s why, alongside our industry partners, we will be focusing our activity at certain stations each day this week, making targeted interventions to help deter incidents. These interventions will aim to improve the safety of everyone who travels on our railway and make the railway more reliable for our customers.”

Paul Langley, Head of Security, Crime and Resilience, Network Rail