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British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for the public^s help to identify a group of men they want to speak to in connection with a number of offences which took place on board a train between Weymouth and Newport.

Officers have today released CCTV images of nine men they believe can help with their enquiries into the incidents which took place on Saturday 6 March.

Around 90 Newport County football fans boarded the 1730hrs Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads service after watching the club^s match against Weymouth Town earlier in the afternoon.

During the journey, a number of incidents took place on board the train including Public Order offences, tampering with CCTV security cameras and smoking. The train^s emergency communication cord was also pulled on two occasions causing the train to be delayed and inconveniencing passengers and the rail industry.

Four men aged 20, 26, 37 and 47, all from the Newport area, were arrested by BTP officers under the Public Order Act when the train arrived at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. The men have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Now, as the investigation into the disorder continues, BTP is asking the public to help identify the nine men in these CCTV stills.

Detective Inspector Mick Southerton, who is leading the investigation, said: ^The behaviour by some of the people on board this particular train was completely unacceptable. It was a very intimidating experience for the travelling public and for railway staff on board the train.

^Following a number of football-related incidents on board trains, BTP has adopted a no-nonsense approach to any anti-social behaviour that is identified. We are working closely with football clubs to identify those who show no respect for law-abiding passengers and we will pursue a prosecution in each case. Every effort will be made to identify those responsible for any disorder using CCTV, photographs and witness statements with a view to getting offenders banned from football matches and putting them before the courts. We will push for the harshest possible sentences to be imposed on offenders.^

DI Southerton said that while alcohol often played a major factor in anti-social behaviour, the vast majority of football fans were well behaved when travelling on the rail network.

Anyone who recognises any of the men in the photographs, or who knows their whereabouts, is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting incident number B5 of 07/04/2010.

Four fans arrested after train fracas

British Transport Police arrested four Newport men in connection with a fracas on a train between Weymouth and Newport, after the Argus printed CCTV images of nine wanted men earlier this week.
The Argus printed images on Thursday of nine men, all believed to be Newport County fans, who were wanted by the British Transport Police (BTP) in connection with a number of offences on a train from Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads following County^s away victory over Weymouth Town on March 6.
Officers said trouble began when around 90 County fans boarded the 5.30pm train at Weymouth, with a number of fans using foul, abusive and threatening language against officers from Dorset and Avon and Somerset Police, as well as BTP officers.
There was also smoking in the carriages, the train's CCTV cameras were tampered with, and the train^s emergency cord was pulled twice during the journey.
BTP officers arrested four of the nine men on Friday, all from the Newport area aged between 36 and 49 and believe they now know the identity of all nine men.
A 40-year-old man has been charged with a public order offence and will appear in Bristol Magistrates Court on April 19 and a 49-year-old man was cautioned for a public order offence.
Two men, aged 36 and 40, have been bailed pending further enquiries.
They will answer bail at Newport Police Station on April 30 and May 5 respectively.
A fifth man, Dale Evans from Vaughan Williams Drive in Newport, has been reported for smoking on a train.
Detective Mick Southerton, who is leading the investigation, said: ^I have been overwhelmed by the responses we^ve had from members of the public following our media appeal. We are very grateful for the support we have received from those readers who contacted us.^
He confirmed the four arrests made on Friday and said officers would be interviewing the remaining men shortly.