By Hayley Robinson

Reports of youths drinking alcohol and being abusive to passengers and rail staff prompted British Transport Police (BTP) to put in extra patrols at Sittingbourne and Teynham railway stations.

The officers, alongside rail enforcement officers from Southeastern trains and colleagues from Kent Police, have been conducting high-visibility patrols at both stations this week as part of an operation to crack down on anti-social behaviour, public order offences and fare evasion, among other offences.

BTP spokesman, Insp Ed Walden, said: "We have received recent reports of youths loitering at the stations, drinking alcohol and being abusive, all of which is completely unacceptable.

"Officers will be on the look- out for anyone committing this sort of behaviour, which makes people feel uncomfortable and unsafe."

Insp Walden said: "I cannot emphasise enough how dangerous this sort of behaviour is. The third rail carries 750 volts of electricity and is on 24 hours a day seven days a week."

To report any anti-social behaviour on trains or at rail stations in your area, contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.