Bath Spa station - improvements, incidents (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Ah, but does your average n'er-do-well actually scan the news media before setting out on his/her journey?

It's highly unlikely that someone, say carry drugs, is going to check the news media to see whether the station they intend to travel to/from is going to be subject to a BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) operation. Same goes for the idiots who thinks its okay to carry a blade.

This is, I suspect, more to do with visible policing and providing reassurance to the law abiding travelling public that the BTP are doing all within their power to make the railways a safe a secure environment.

As for 'stop and search', simply being at a station is not reasonable grounds for a stop to be carried out. Setting off a metal detector, alerting a sniffer dog or acting suspiciously are.

Nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

[inspector_blakey]

This is little more than a ridiculous piece of 'security theatre': the odd mobile metal detector arch popping up once in a blue moon will do almost nothing to keep anybody safe. Further, I would consider being made to walk through a metal detector as a search in its own right, for which I would hope Plod had reasonable cause. As other posters pointed out above, simply arriving at a railway station doesn't constitute that in my book.

I concur what what bobm said - I have taken that 2200 ex-Bath service many times on a Saturday night and there are often drunk and rowdy passengers (I'm guessing heading back home to Swindon or Chippenham to carry on drinking), but the metal detector doesn't solve that problem at all. What might help is having the odd BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) officer travel between Bath and Swindon on a regular basis at that time on a Saturday evening. Probably a darn sight cheaper than playing at airport security as well.

[Brucey]

This Guardian article makes interesting reading for those interested in the legalities of metal detector arches on the railway: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/mar/20/civil-liberties-stop-and-search

[inspector_blakey]

Unfortunately this kind of nonsense tends to bring out an unpleasant awkward side in me, which I'm sure is going to get me into trouble one day. A few years ago, in an uncharacteristic fit of crankiness and stupidity brought on by extreme tiredness after an overnight flight from Canada, I refused point blank to answer the British immigration official's questions at Heathrow on the grounds that I was a British citizen and therefore did not need her permission to enter the country. Utterly remarkably she said no more and just let me in. Only a few minutes later did it occur to me how completely idiotic I had been and that I got lucky.

[Tim]

...Not as daft as it sounds.  Sometimes the screening people are not actually interested in what you have to say, just how whether you look "shifty" when engaged in conversation with an official.  She clearly had you down as "shirty" rather than "shifty"

[Tim]

Even if you are quick off the train and first onto the stairs, it is still not as quick to reach the pavement as it was down the ramp. This extra minute (or less) makes the difference between catching the bus about to leave the bus station or missing it.

It will be a few seconds quicker once the demo job is completed and the hoardings removed.

[inspector_blakey]

I've used the IRIS booths since then, they don't answer back!

[pjpjw]

With regard to Bobm's observation of rowdy borders at Bath (2200 for Chippenham/Swindon) can any regulars say if this problem often afflicts the late services to Trowbridge?  (Partner would find this service useful but is concerned about travelling alone). thanks

[thetrout]

I was at Bath Spa station on Friday and didn't spot a metal detector or any form of Police presence

But For goodness sake, if they do this, I will take the Bus to Bath instead. I want to make it quite clear that I have nothing at all to hide. But I always set Metal Detectors off in Airports! (Another reason why I detest flying).

I agree with I_B here, I would seriously disapprove of being searched at a railway station, considering if I had only come from just down the line. To me that would certainly be a good way to p**s me off, if I was just doing my normal activities in Bath!

@pjpjw: That train you're referring too, Yes there is drunken behaviour, often standing room only, but I personally haven't had any trouble on that service! I would say though, that this service lacks a ticket check Staff just seem to hide in the back cab!

[tramway]

Ah, but does your average n'er-do-well actually scan the news media before setting out on his/her journey?

Afraid the was no need BNM, plenty of coverage on local radio.

[Tim]

I don;t have a problem with this.  There is a genuine problem of drunken youg people coming in to Bath from places like Chippenham and Trowbridge.  If the Police use their brains and only traget those who look like they are potential trouble makers then this could be a deterant so its all for the best. 

You have to remember that this is a "police presence" at time and place when the public and staff might otherwise feel intimidated.  The metal detection stuff is secondary to that in my opinion although if the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) are on duty migth as well give them something to do.

[thetrout]

Came through Bath Spa today and not a BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) officer in sight! I was off the train and out of the station in less than 2 minutes!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bath Chronicle:

Police hail Bath Spa Station exercise a success

Visitors travelling through Bath Spa Station at the weekend were checked for alcohol, weapons and drugs as part of an initiative to crack down on city centre trouble.

An airport-style metal detector was set up in the station last Friday night and a team of special constables, joined by officers from the British Transport Police, searched visitors.

​There was also a specially-trained sniffer dog looking for people with drugs.

One man from Wales was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply, while another was given a caution after being found with a quantity of cannabis for his own use.

Two others admitted using drugs earlier in the evening.

BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) Inspector Andy Irwin-Porter said the operation had been a success and they were looking at repeating it again in the future. He said: "It was a successful joint operation that served to reassure people that they can feel safe and be safe when they come to enjoy a night out in Bath. Many of the problems in the city are caused by people visiting Bath for a night out, travelling into the city by train. They don't have the same belonging and responsibilities towards those who live and work in the city and the effects that disorder brings to the reputation of a beautiful and historic place.

"Partnership working with the Avon and Somerset special constables, the train operators and the local authority provided reassurance and reduced the opportunities to misuse alcohol leading to disorder in the city and later on the trains. Mostly we had a positive reaction with the majority of people being supportive of what we were doing. We have carried out similar exercises across the region and will look at repeating the exercise in Bath."

City centre Sergeant Richard Durnford said he hoped the exercise had sent out a reassuring message to the people of Bath that the police would not tolerate anti-social and criminal behaviour. He said: "The special constables worked closely with BTP and achieved their main objective of protecting the public. It provided a visible reassurance to the public and a deterrent to potential trouble-makers, and sent out a clear message that police will take firm action against people carrying drugs or weapons and committing alcohol-related crimes."

The 11 special constables and nine BTP officers later went on to patrol pubs and clubs in Bath city centre.

The exercise was part BTP's nationwide Operation Shield and Avon and Somerset's Operation Relentless - a three-month campaign to keep people safe throughout the summer.

[coolsecretspy]

i have only ever seen Station staff i think, holding airport style metal detector wands once maybe a few other times to before in all the time i have been travelling to Bath. annoyingly enough that day they had them to hand i had left a pocket knife in my pocket that i had been using to cut cable ties and generally service a machine i was working, on which i had forgotten to take out of my pocket and leave behind prior to my mad dash to the train station to meet thetrout in Bath.

fortunatly enough for me although they were standing at the stop of the stairs looking very scary armed with the wands it didn't look like they were wanding people, so i was able to slip though without being scanned. had they have decided to scan people as they were walking down the stairs i would have been screwed and then probably had to have delt with a police confrontation which never goes down well for me

[coolsecretspy]

does anyone here know what the random railing and the foot path is for that now runs down the middle section beween the two tracks at Bath Spa station are for? i saw them putting it all in and even to this day i still can't work out what the railing and the footpath is for. thetrout as a theory as to what it's for but i was wondering if anyone knew any different.