Detectives are appealing for the victims and witnesses of a series of robberies on trains in Kent yesterday to come forward.
Yesterday evening (24 June), at around 9pm, there were several reports of young people and adults acting aggressively and anti-socially towards other commuters on several trains from Margate towards London.
Alongside this, a smaller group of teenagers were reported to have been moving along trains threatening people with knives and attempting to rob them, using violence to take phones and valuables.
British Transport Police officers attended Faversham railway station following these reports, and five teenagers aged between 15 and 17 were arrested on suspicion of robbery in connection and remain in custody while enquiries continue.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who was the victim of a robbery or a witness to this behaviour to come forward and support the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 214 of 25 June.
Information can also be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Wasn’t there a guard looking at the CCTV in the carriages? And if so, why didn’t that guard halt the train and call the police??
It says Police were waiting for and arrested some of them at Faversham. The conductor stopping the train other than at a station would increase the risk, not reduce it. I hope it was armed Polcie they sent as it’s reported they threatened with knives which would require tasers as a minimum.
Yes, I meant at a station.
They sacked most of the train staff years back. Why these obvious lowlifes heading off for trouble, get away with jumping on trains without tickets.
this place is getting worse by the day , even the public transport is a nightmare !
Which ‘place’ is a moving train in?
England
This whole solar system sucks these days.
It was so much nicer 5,00,000 years ago, the evenings were a lot cooler.
BTP need to be present on all trains, unfortunately!
Coming of age with a younger selfless generation, unfortunately!
Yes-so much better in the 1960’s with the Mods & Rockers fighting all over the place & terrorising innocent people. Or the 1970’s & 1980’s with the Punks & Skinheads etc.
This is not a new problem-the appearance may change, but they remain the same-mostly boozed/drugged up guys in their teens & twenties, with loads of testosterone & Dutch Courage, but little in the way of brains or decorum.
“If violent crime is to be curved, it is only the intended victim who can do it. The felon does not fear the police, neither does he fear the judge nor the jury. Therefore, what he must be taught to fear is his victim.”
Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Cooper – I.S. Marine Corps
“Always carry a knife with you. Just in case there is cheesecake or, you need to stab someone in the throat.”
General James Mattis
Violent becomes a problem in every society where The State has a monopoly on the lawful use of violence and the general populace have acquiesced to such a state of affairs. A century ago Parliament virtually disarmed Britain.
US Law does not apply to the UK-carrying a knife is illegal & will land you in trouble, especially legally if you use it & if it is wrestled away from you & used on you then physically.
If you are going to advocate for carrying, then you would need to be more inventive than banned items.
It’s actually legal to carry a knife less than 3 inches and you don’t have to give a reason when asked by the Police. Carrying a knife longer than that and you risk arrest if you can’t give a good reason.
Care to comme t on the incidence of blue on blue deaths in the USA?
Absolutely shocking news, this is probably organised crime known as transport steaming. The transport companies involved, including the owner of Southeastern (our government) must do more to stop these and other attacks on their property immediately. Reducing staff on trains and stations has backfired.
They sacked the staff so they could increase their & the shareholders obscene profits.
If reports on social media are to be believed it’s men, in balaclavas with machetes.
Carrying a machete how pleasant for my 20 year old daughter who travels on trains daily.This is not mods and rockers.This is a threat to decent people going about their daily routines.Police on the trains with tazers and a zero tolerance policy.Decency does not work with these people.
You might recall Mods & Rockers used knives, metal chains, coshes, glass bottles, rocks, stones, Cricket bats, Golf clubs, even starting pistols & anything else they could get their hands on.
You might remember they also didn’t care who else was around them-all fair game. Rose tinted glasses of a bygone era, but not reality.
Im begining to wonder if tourism in this area is worth it.I see people of all ages throwing litter.I hear foul language from half naked youths parading around the towns,vandalism and fighting.All the pubs have hundreds of fag butts everywhere(never to be swepted up).People walking around off their heads screaming and shouting in the small hours.Cars parking over residents entrances.
Do a Glastonbury and close to tourists for a year.Probably save the Council thousands.
Thanet should rely on art to sustain it.
If it pleases The Bench:”My client comes from a difficult social background and dropped out of education in his early teens. He is also on ‘the spectrum’ and is unable to socialise appropriately. I ask the court not to consider a custodial sentence in this case.”
About right, and the perpetrators know it. As for the notion (in previous responses)that extra transport staff are the answer, the numbers needed to control such a situation (without using significant force) are considerable to the extent it’s not feasible.
As the law and the rules it works under currently stand , the antisocial element in society have the upper hand. The only sensible response is for the law abiding to avoid being in the wrong place wrong time.
Maybe if it becomes too horrific, they have to consider not running trains to certain coastal towns when the temperature becomes too high? No service
What about people who actually WORK for a living???
Kids under 18 not allowed to travel without parents
What about under 18’s who work / go uni / do training / visit family?
What would happen if some of the passengers got together and gave them a good slapping. After all you are allowed to use as much force as necessary if you are in danger.
I do agree. Not even sure if slapping would be necessary. If members of the public, particularly men but women too, joined forces, outnumbered the troublemakers and asserted themselves, that would very likely subdue and intimidate them sufficiently to prevent trouble. Also sends a strong message that the ‘public’ aren’t passive.
However I think many of us are just plain scared. Perhaps of being hurt but also, importantly, of falling foul of the law just by standing up to threatening, abusive yobs. One bruise, or a female yob claiming to have experienced any kind of inappropriate contact can easily result in those who were doing the right thing facing a world of pain.
The questions of how much force was necessary and just how much danger there actually was could in theory be debated for a long time in court.