Rail operators, the British Transport Police (BTP) and Network Rail have intensified patrols and security measures across Sussex and south London following a sharp rise in trespassing and anti-social behaviour incidents on the railway.
The coordinated "week of action" comes after new figures revealed that anti-social behaviour and trespass incidents increased significantly over a six-month period, creating safety risks for passengers and staff while causing disruption to rail services.
Data shows that incidents on the railway in Sussex and south London rose by 29% during July and August 2025, while the overall number of incidents increased by 39% compared with November and December. During July and August alone, there were 398 recorded incidents, including 203 cases of trespassing and 33 incidents of anti-social behaviour.
The proactive enforcement campaign delivered immediate results. On the first day of action, Monday 10 August, British Transport Police officers arrested a suspected cable thief linked to a cable theft that took place in June. Working alongside Network Rail staff and using station CCTV footage, officers identified the individual and made an arrest after he was spotted walking through a station.
As part of efforts to improve passenger safety and reduce disruption, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has invested £2.5 million in expanding its Travel Safe Officer programme through its Anti-Social Behaviour Improvement Plan. The enhanced presence is designed to deter criminal activity, support frontline railway staff and provide reassurance for passengers travelling across the network.
Security Measures Being Enhanced
Throughout the week, rail industry partners have been deploying a range of measures designed to tackle crime and improve safety, including:
- Increased patrols at known anti-social behaviour and crime hotspots across the network
- Greater public awareness campaigns encouraging reports of trespass and welfare concerns
- Direct engagement with passengers on responding to incidents involving trespassers or vulnerable individuals
- The use of drone technology to identify and deter trespass and misuse of railway infrastructure
Paul Langley, Network Rail’s Head of Security, Crime and Resilience, said:
"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 but making the railway more reliable for our customers."
Mike Boyce, GTR's head of security and policing, said:
"This week of action exemplifies the work we do every day in close partnership with our colleagues at the BTP, Network Rail and other organisations up and down our huge network.
"All of our passengers and staff should be safe and, importantly, feel safe when they travel and use our stations. We've undertaken a lot of work to bolster our existing security presence including doubling the headcount of our Travel Safe Officers, improved information sharing with partners like the Brighton Crime Reduction Partnership, and updated our incident reporting app - Zero Harm - to gather better intelligence on where our resources are most needed.
"If you see our people out onboard your trains or at your local station this week, say hello and find out about what they're doing to help keep you safe."
No Second Chances Campaign Highlights Deadly Risks
The week of action supports the rail industry's wider safety initiative and follows the launch of a new phase of the "No Second Chances" campaign in July.
Research commissioned by the rail industry suggests many people continue to underestimate the potentially fatal consequences of trespassing on the railway. Common scenarios include entering the track area to retrieve dropped belongings, crossing railway lines to save time, or standing too close to the edge of platforms.
The scale of the issue remains significant. Across Britain, more than 19,000 trespass incidents were recorded on the railway during 2024/25. These incidents resulted in 19 accidental fatalities and left 85 people seriously injured.
One person who knows the dangers first-hand is Surrey resident Dinusha Ilanperuma.
Ten years ago, while returning home from a party aged 15, Dinusha stepped onto the tracks to retrieve a shoe. As she attempted to climb back onto the platform, she slipped and came into contact with the electrified rail.
The incident left her with life-changing injuries. She suffered severe electric shock injuries and extensive third-degree burns requiring skin grafts to her arm, back and foot. Dinusha spent two weeks in hospital and underwent a lengthy recovery process, including learning to use her arm again after sustaining significant nerve damage.
Now, a decade later, she is sharing her experience to help prevent similar incidents.
Dinusha Ilanperuma said:
"I’m lucky to be alive. I still have the scars from that night, and it so easily could have been much worse.
"My friends had to watch as I was electrocuted. When I woke up in the hospital, people told me they could smell the burnt flesh on my skin. It was horrible hearing that. I don’t want anyone to ever have to experience what I went through.
"I want people to stop and think. To realise the dangers of trespassing on the railway. To ask themselves: is that really worth risking my life over?"
Network Rail is distributing a railway-wide safety toolkit to support industry partners in raising awareness of the dangers associated with trespassing.
The campaign also forms part of a broader rail industry commitment to improving public safety ahead of the introduction of statutory rail safety education in schools across England from September 2026.
Image & Video Credits: Network Rail
