A research study conducted on behalf of the industry in 1998 established that:

	the prime perpetrators of railway crime with potential to cause harm, are 8-14 year old males
	the prime time for criminal activity by this age group is in the spring right through until the autumn.
	other people at risk include adults who take short cuts across the track as well as older youths.

During the study some frightening facts emerged:

	Over 30% of school pupils interviewed admitted to being involved in one or more acts of railway crime
	20% said they had taken short cuts across or along a railway line
	10% said they had thrown things on a railway line
	8% had placed objects on the line or thrown things at passing trains

Of the reasons given for such dangerous activities,

	32% said "Nothing else to do"
	22% said "My friend wanted me to do it"
	18% said "It was exciting"

Aidan Nelson of Railway Safety comments: "Summer is a key time for railway crime. Railway stations and areas near tracks are often used as unofficial youth clubs by children with lots of spare holiday time and nothing to do.

"Railway Crime results in lives being lost and extremely serious injuries. We must get the message across to youngsters that they're playing with people's lives - and their own - when they play on or near the railway."

A research study conducted on behalf of Railway Safety concluded that there are an estimated:

	17 million offences of criminal trespass on the railways committed annually by adults
	10 million offences of criminal trespass on the railways committed annually by children
	I million adults who are current and repeat offenders
	I.3 million children who are current and repeat offenders

Peter Edwards, Chef Superintendent (Territorial Operations), British Transport Police, comments:

"These estimates are so shocking in their enormity they seem surreal. Even just half of them demonstrate what a massive problem railway crime is on our network."

In the very least these conclusions prove that dangerous behaviour on the railway is a societal problem, not just a problem for the railways."