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Random acts of very public violence on the rail network

MrLizard

Posted by MrLizard over 2 years ago
Last active about 1 year ago 7 responses

I was on an overground train to Ally Pally around 18:00 yesterday, when two teenage hoodies barged their way off the train at Finsbury Park station and proceded to push over and repeatedly kick a harmless looking young man (office worker type, thick glasses) in the stomach and back.

It was unbelievably vicious but mercifully brief, as a couple of members of the public (it was a crowded rush hour platform) and a couple of station staff intervened. What freaked me out, though, was that the two subhuman toerags who carried out the attack then got back onto the train, unimpeded by the platform attendants. I thought SURELY the train wouldn’t pull out with them still on it, but sure enough, we all had to endure a very tense journey home with these scowling thugs still in our carriage (plus a gaggle of female hangers on, playing shitty R & fucking B on their mobiles and cackling).

Myself being tall, gangly, nerdy looking, and carrying enough expensive consumer electronics to stock a provincial town centre branch of Dixons, I was basically resigned to the fact that I was not going to make it home to my partner and baby son in one piece that evening. (Thankfully I did).

My question is: did the station staff cock up here, or is there some kind of protocol they have to follow when incidents like this occur? Cos if people can get away with shit like this at busy, well staffed stations like Finsbury Park, it doesn’t bode well for users of the smaller unmanned stations…..

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7 responses

mydogminton

Have you reported it to British Transport Police or Transport for London? I’d think that, regardless of whether the victim wanted to press charges, they’d want to know that staff weren’t doing anything.

Seems very odd. It’s not like they station and trains aren’t covered with CCTV for evidence.

Posted over 2 years ago by mydogminton

HarrowSoul

I agree with mydogminton. It seems you didn’t feel able to step in at the time yourself (not a criticism – not everyone would), so why not do the responsible thing and offer yourself as a witness?

And no, you’re right; it doesn’t bode well for users of unmanned stations. Therefore, God forbid it happens again, but rather than wasting time looking for a member of staff to blame / protect you / ignore you, it would make sense to assist the “members of the public” in stopping the incident, or at least film it. (Don’t pretend you don’t have a camera on one of those gadgets).

Posted about 1 year ago by HarrowSoul

MrLizard

Hmm. Didn’t fancy waving my digicam around at them, that’s just dumb. And as for stepping in: getting myself a 100% guaranteed pasting at the hands of a couple of thugs is not really the responsible thing for a new parent and primary provider to do. Other people may disagree, but I really do believe the best thing course of action for most adults is to keep your head down and save the macho heroics for World of Warcraft. The members of the public who did step in looked what i would euphemistically call “capable”.

As for the other suggestion – yeah, i really should report it….

Posted about 1 year ago by MrLizard

MrLizard

I reported it to British Transport Police this morning.

Posted about 1 year ago by MrLizard

HarrowSoul

Good man!

Posted about 1 year ago by HarrowSoul

LizardBath

Did anything come of your reporting it? Have you been asked to be a witness or anything?

Posted about 1 year ago by LizardBath

unknown

well done!

Many of the incidents are not reported..

however, they will probably get away with it…lack of good cctv coverage..

Posted about 1 year ago by unknown