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Stay safe this Easter ^ that^s the message from BTP to children and young people in South Wales.
Easter is traditionally a time when incidents such as stone-throwing, putting obstructions in front of trains, trespassing and line-side vandalism increase on the railway with children off school and the onset of the light nights.
Now, in a bid to keep them, and rail users safe, British Transport Police (BTP) officer Bill Rogerson is calling on people to stay away from the railway lines this Easter.
PC Rogerson works closely with children and young people in schools throughout BTP^s Wales and Western Area to educate them about the dangers associated with the railways. He said: ^During the Easter Holidays we traditionally see an increase in vandalism and stone-throwing offences on the railway. We are hoping that this year, by targeting hot spot areas and through the education work we have already done, we will reduce the number of incidents and deter youngsters from messing about on the railway. Anyone who trespasses onto the railway is taking a gamble with their own lives, as well as the lives of all the staff and passengers travelling on the trains. The railway is an inherently dangerous environment. High speed trains take a mile and a half ^ or the length of 20 football pitches - to stop. Railway lines should never be treated as a playground or somewhere to hang about.^
PC Rogerson added: ^When people are injured or killed on the railway it has a huge impact on that person^s immediate family and also on the community as a whole. Network Rail have spent a lot of money erecting fencing in hot spots and people must remember to stay behind these fences and obey all railway signs. If you are caught deliberately obstructing the railway or trespassing on the tracks and endangering people^s safety we will do everything in our power to prosecute you and put you before the courts. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.^
^Also, if you use any type of level crossing you must follow the instructions and obey all the warning signs that are in place at the crossing. Remember to Stop Look and Listen ^ and use all railway crossings safely.^