Merseyrail signs up to British Transport Police app scheme

Merseyrail have signed up to a new British Transport Police (BTP) app that aims to help passengers feel as safe as possible whilst travelling on the rail network.

The Railway Guardian app is a two-way communication platform between British Transport Police and passengers, designed to encourage the reporting of a range of issues including anti-social behaviour and criminal activity on the UK rail network.

The app allows concerned passengers to make a report straight to the BTP control room. BTP officers can then deploy to the nearest, or next, station where appropriate.

Not only does the app encourage reporting of unwanted behaviour, but it also includes content aimed at encouraging positive behavioural change by providing advice on what is acceptable.

The geographical location option also allows passengers to share their journey with loved ones.

Passengers can report any crimes or concerns via the Railway Guardian app. Under the ‘Report’ function, incidents can be reported to British Transport Police, Merseyrail, or anonymously to StreetSafe.

If passengers require emergency assistance, they should always call 999.

Aside from reporting security issues, passengers can also use it to register any problems they spot whilst travelling, such as wear and tear or maintenance issues.

Any report about stations or trains will be delivered directly to Merseyrail’s customer relations team and those making reports will be kept updated about the progress in resolving the issue they have highlighted.

Suzanne Grant, Commercial Director of Merseyrail, said: “While our network is one of the safest in the UK, with passengers responding to customer surveys telling us they feel safe while travelling with us, we continue to work hard to ensure this remains the case.

“By partnering with British Transport Police in the development of this app, we are helping to ensure that criminal behaviour including anti-social behaviour will have no place on our network.

“The ability for people to report on issues at stations and on trains will really help us to ensure passengers receive the service they expect. It could be an issue with lighting, overgrown vegetation, or a matter relating to the car park or cycle storage – whatever the problem this will be a quick, easy, and efficient way for our passengers to make us aware of any problems they might spot.

“Our passengers expect to be able to travel in comfort and to feel safe and secure. Merseyrail is proud of how safe the network is, and we will keep working hard to ensure this continues to be the case.”

The app can be downloaded from https://onelink.to/muk9u2.