§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are(a) the total numbers of reported offences, (b) the total number of arrests and (c) the 345W numbers of deaths in the areas of live rails, such as those used by British Rail Network SouthEast track for (i) England and Wales and (ii) the Greater London area each year since 1979.
§ Mr. PortilloThe information is not available in the form requested. I can, however, provide details relating to the numbers of fatalities resulting from contact with electrified railway lines for the country as a whole. The figures, taken from the Department's chief inspecting officer's annual reports, are as follows:
Year Passengers killed Trespassers killed Railway staff killed Total 1979 1 10 — 11 1980 — 9 — 9 1981 — 9 2 11 1982 1 11 15 27 1983 — 5 — 5 1984 — 12 8 20 1985 — 4 — 4 1986 1 7 1 9 1987 — 5 1 6 1988 — 4 — 4 Total 3 76 27 106
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has on the instructions or guidelines the British Transport police and the Metropolitan police have issued on the safe apprehension of suspects in the areas of live rails;
(2) what specific training or guidelines are given to British Transport police and Metropolitan police officers on the policing of areas with live rails; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. PortilloRelevant guidelines have been produced by British Rail's director of operations at the request of the British Transport police (BTP). These have been issued to all police forces throughout the United Kingdom and I am placing a copy in the House of Commons Library as the hon. Member has requested. BTP officers receive specialised training concerning safety aspects of policing British Rail and London Underground railways. All BTP officers are authorised to work on running lines in the same way as British Rail operational staff. I understand that this does not apply to officers in other police forces, but advice and assistance is available from the BTP as and when needed.