By Hayley Robinson

Reports of youths drinking alcohol and being abusive to passengers and staff have prompted British Transport Police 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, will be conducting high-visibility patrols at both stations this week as part of an operation to clampdown on anti-social behaviour, public order offences and fare evasion, amongst other offences.

The operation, which was launched yesterday, will run until Friday.

BTP Insp Ed Walden said: "We have received recent reports of youths loitering at the stations, drinking alcohol and being abusive to passengers and rail staff, 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 in what is otherwise a very safe environment.

"It’s also important for members of the local community to tell us about any issues of concern they have in their area, as this allows us to identify and tackle any problems.

"Crime at these stations is low, but we want to make sure that people who use the rail network are not only safe, but feel safe."

Police will also be on the lookout for trespassers, following reports of youths crossing the live rails at Teynham station to switch platforms.

Insp Walden said: "I cannot emphasise enough how dangerous this sort of behaviour is. The third rail, which powers trains across London and the south east, carries 750 volts of electricity and remains switched on 24 hours a day seven days a week."

A Southeastern spokesman said: "We fully support the work that the British Transport Police and Kent Police are doing to help reduce anti-social behaviour. The safety of all our passengers is paramount and we will continue to work closely with these organisations to make sure passengers feel safe.
"The railways, if not respected properly, are a dangerous environment and anything we can do to make it safer, we will do."

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