It seems South West Trains will set their security people onto you simply because you're an amateur musician who's writing down the titles of songs your band's going to play at a forthcoming gig and just happen to be on one of their trains while you're doing it
A musician has spoken of his shock at being removed from a train for "behaving suspiciously" by writing a list of songs which included the band name The Killers.
Tom Shaw was travelling on a South West Trains when he began writing a list of song titles which his band The Magic Mushrooms would play at a forthcoming gig.
But the 25-year-old was approached by two security staff employed by the train company and asked to leave the train at Fareham railway station.
Mr Shaw, who works with young people with learning difficulties, said they told him he had been behaving suspiciously and asked him to explain the list he had been writing. The set list included Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand, Cigarettes and Alcohol by Oasis and Love Me Like You by The Magic Numbers.
Mr Shaw, of Portsmouth, Hampshire, said his band also intended to play All These Things That I've Done by The Killers but he had simply written "killers".
He told the Portsmouth News: "They made me get out at Fareham and when I asked what was wrong they told me to show them the piece of paper I'd been writing on. They said I'd been behaving suspiciously. I couldn't understand it. It seemed very strange as it was only a list of songs. We had a gig coming up so I was writing out what we could play. They made me explain song by song."
Mr Shaw added that the security staff told him that he had been questioned because there had been a number of arrests in the area including a man who had murdered his wife.
A South West Trains spokeswoman said Mr Shaw was asked politely to leave the train because it was busy and the officers wished to speak to him about their concerns.
She added: "We employ a team of highly professional rail community officers who work closely with the British Transport Police in protecting the security of passengers on the rail network. During a routine high-visibility patrol back in early March, they talked with a passenger on the platform at Fareham station. The team clarified the nature of the individual's business, were satisfied with his explanation and the man went on his way. We would like to thank the passenger for his co-operation and understanding of the need to be vigilant in the current environment."
The above is from the Yahoo article and is their copyright.
I'm going to get shouted down - but if I saw someone write down just "killers" on a blank piece of paper, while on a train, I'm sure I'd feel a little uncomfortable to be close by...!
He wasn't kicked off the train, he was asked to answer some questions and he happily responded to the request. When his explanation was given, he was allowed to continue on his way. I'm not sure why this is such a crime by SWT? They found his writings to be odd and suspicious (which lets be fair, writing just "killers" doesn't explain much does it!) and did not exactly drag him from the train kicking and screaming and chuck him into a cell.
I'm all for letting the general populace getting on with their life, and the BTP/TOCs letting the photographers get on with it in peace, but here it all seems to have been handled sensibly and with the best outcome for all parties.
Surely we want a pro-active staff on the trains in any event?
She added: "We employ a team of highly professional rail community officers who work closely with the British Transport Police in protecting the security of passengers on the rail network. During a routine high-visibility patrol back in early March, they talked with a passenger on the platform at Fareham station. The team clarified the nature of the individual's business, were satisfied with his explanation and the man went on his way. We would like to thank the passenger for his co-operation and understanding of the need to be vigilant in the current environment."
I think that the extract from the Yahoo article says it all - pseudo police granted extensive powers but neither the training nor commonsense that's needed to exercise them.
SWT are my nearest TOC and I use them regularly and have done since privatisation, of which I did not approve at all. However, in all those years of travelling (including the daily commute to Waterloo) I have never experienced anything less than as decent service as could be expected and reasonable staff which is some tribute, I suppose. If any of them were to try to protect me from grief (like being blown up or delayed by security scares) then that's fine with me. Think the media should toddle off somewhere else for a story.
Simierski wrote:I'm going to get shouted down - but if I saw someone write down just "killers" on a blank piece of paper, while on a train, I'm sure I'd feel a little uncomfortable to be close by...!
I'd have felt really uncomfortable if I'd seen him write down 444 007 actually, especially if that was the number of the train we were on - quick bring me a BTP officer before I faint, I've just met a trainspotter
And presumably nobody listens to anything by "The Stranglers" nowadays south of the Thames; in the interests of political correctness gone mad you understand
Simierski wrote:I'm going to get shouted down - but if I saw someone write down just "killers" on a blank piece of paper, while on a train, I'm sure I'd feel a little uncomfortable to be close by...!
I'd have felt really uncomfortable if I'd seen him write down 444 007 actually, especially if that was the number of the train we were on - quick bring me a BTP officer before I faint, I've just met a trainspotter
And presumably nobody listens to anything by "The Stranglers" nowadays south of the Thames; in the interests of political correctness gone mad you understand
G'Day Gents
Why? were they looking over at his piece of paper (big Brothers here) If I write the word 'squash' down, has 'Anybody' the right to demand to see what I have written down and do I have to explain, that I am intending to put someone or something between two heavy steel plates and watch them die or am I making a shopping list, some peoples imaginations are leading them down the garden path, of paranoia.
manna
richard wrote:Yes: Who would believe it? The Telegraph criticising Labour? Next thing we'll know, the Guardian will be criticising Thatcher!
Richard
Now here's a frightening, but thoroughly OT, fact. On May Bank Holiday this year (Monday 3 May) it'll be the 31st anniversary of the woman winning her first General Election!
Dear Sirs, if a word can't be wrote down or has to have ** in place of the naughty bits , why use it? What is wrong with saying ''Tut Tut Oh Dear''
Jim brodie.
bring back the Goon Show--Oh sorry it's already here.
Very sorry Mr.Brodie,i thought we were free to say whatever we wanted on this forum.Until Richard informs me otherwise,i shall continue putting down whatever comes into my head.So sorry if i offended you sir.
