Forum Topic

Land sheriffs

Who are these creepy people and why were they in charge of the railway crossing at Acton Central all day today? I thought for a minute they were still filming the series '24' in Acton.

Zoe Archer ● 4513d36 Comments

Land Sheriffs are a security company.  One of their clients is Network Rail. I don't know why they were in charge of the level crossing.  Perhaps there was a problem with the automated operation of the crossing. In what way were they "creepy"?

Richard Jennings ● 4513d

Their manner, uniform, truck. The fact that they were 'in charge' without anyone having a clue who they were. Their entire look was quite threatening and in complete opposition to the jolly staff who work at the station. Found it bizarre.

Zoe Archer ● 4513d

A couple lept over the barriers and boarded a train I was leaving - at least I think they must have been connected as they wore high viz security jackets and looked threatening. No idea why though.

Sara Nathan ● 4513d

Not sure I understand the "threatening look" thing.  If you need people to control a level crossing, involving stopping of road traffic, you need people who look as though they mean business.  It's a critical safety function, not a jolly/smiley job.I would expect them to be wearing hi-vis jackets with "Network Rail" on the back.  Were they?

Richard Jennings ● 4513d

We spoke to them on the way to the park with the dogs, they were making sure no one went over the crossing when the warning lights were flashing. They were perfectly nice and polite.

Kim Rugg ● 4512d

No they didn't have Network Rail on their jackets, all we knew was that they were 'land sheriffs'  whatever that means. I saw them three times throughout the day and it wasn't clear what they were doing as the barriers were working and they only stopped cars at random. Why not say you work for network rail? Why not have an A frame with a sign saying what's going on? I'm not comfortable with private security companies who don't need to declare  what they are doing but assume the power and responsibility of the police. Let's agree to disagree. Kim I'm pleased they were polite to you.

Zoe Archer ● 4512d

I overhead them telling someone that they were there because people jump down off the train onto the tracks to avoid going through the barrier.I have never ever seen anyone do this, but maybe they do.

Sara Nathan ● 4512d

"I'm not comfortable with private security companies who don't need to declare  what they are doing but assume the power and responsibility of the police."Fair comment.  It reminded me of an uncomfortable incident in the 1960s when I was on my way home around 11pm and was stopped by a gang of men in unfamiliar uniforms on a quiet country road near Windsor. They turned out to be prison officers (with no police presence) who wanted to warn me of an escaped prisoner thought to be in the area.At the very least the people at Acton should have been identified on their jackets as working for Network Rail.  I've sent an email to Network Rail.

Richard Jennings ● 4512d

I regularly see people chancing it across the track as the gates come down even mums with pushchairs trying to drop off their babies at the nursery! Just yesterday one lad was trying to sneak under the barriers and was stopped by the Creepy guard. perhaps it is more prevalent at some times of the day.Because the staff of the station are helpful rather than jobsworth it is worth asking them if you can sneak through the station to get accross through the underpassage when the barriers are down. They usually oblige. If you look closely their is a Network Rail logo on their jacket but it wouldn't hurt to have a more visible logo I must admit.

Kim Rugg ● 4511d

I've seen lots of people fare dodging by jumping down onto the tracks so that they avoid paying as well as tailgating/pushing people through  the larger pushchair gate. Glad to see something being done about it!

Lisa Shackleton ● 4511d

I too spoke to the two lads enforcing the rules re crossing over the railway line safely.Cars are also offenders and they are aware of this.  I was on my way from Gunnersbury when someone jumped over the closed barrier.  He was not so lucky and ended up underneath he train, right underneath my carriage.  This chap lost both his legs, which was observed by all those on the train.So - beware - people do get injured and killed trying to avoid paying their fares.How to avoid tailgating.  Take your time, you know who is going to do this and if necessary stop and call the attendant on duty to bring the video record to the attention of the railway police for action.

Dee Cook ● 4511d

I do not use this station so do not know the crossing well but sounds like some money needs to be spent making it " safer", in stopping people doing stupid things to avoid paying fares from the postings made and ensure cars obey the crossing gates. Longer term this must make more sense than hiring security to police the area?

Joe Conneely ● 4510d

I think one of the problems is the barriers come down a good 2 to 3 minutes before the train comes along and people are impatient. So people try to duck under the barrier, while most car and van drivers couldn't care less about polluting the area by leaving their engines running.It also means we're unlikely to ever see more frequent trains as the barriers will spend more time down than up.

Ben Smith ● 4510d

It feels like they already do!  I reckon to get caught at least two out of every three journeys across. But I have never seen anyone  fare evading by dropping down onto the tracks

Sara Nathan ● 4510d

I've witnessed it loads on the daily commute. It's a big drop down onto the tracks too.

Lisa Shackleton ● 4510d

They were there this afternoon at around 1615 - hardly a peak period.  Large four wheel drive vehicle, with a very burly looking individual inside.

Nina Battleday ● 4510d

This morning there again - and there were two ambulances too....my immediate thought was they had chased people onto the tracks, but it's pure speculation. Maybe wholly a coincidence (just one I haven't seen before)

Sara Nathan ● 4509d

Shift change: two large black, scary cars in Goldsmith Road at 1400.

Sara Nathan ● 4509d

I really can't believe we are being told the whole story.

Zoe Archer ● 4509d

Interesting web site information on Network Rail Land Sherrifs.  However, as an innocent traveller I find them somewhat intimidating, and wonder why nothing has been said about their function.  I've seen nothing about them at the station, or in any paper.

Nina Battleday ● 4509d

I'm still awaiting a response from Network Rail to my e-mail of 9 May (to be fair, they've only had it for one working day).  It's been passed to the local Community Relations team.

Richard Jennings ● 4509d

I do wish Network rail would put as much effort into maintenance (see overhanging trees thread) of trackside and bridges.The one over the track here has such badly maintained lighting and they never clear the rubbish which is a total fire-trap.

Sara Nathan ● 4508d

....and they could clear all the graffiti whilst they are at it....

Dee Cook ● 4508d

Do you ever walk over the bridge, Doris? The grafitti is quietly painted over every fortnight or so. NOT by Network Rail.

Sara Nathan ● 4508d

I had a phone call on Tuesday afternoon from Network Rail.  The operation is apparently for revenue protection purposes, though they seem to have done some safety-related work while they were there.The caller emphasised that if anyone asked the Land Sheriffs people for an explanation, they would respond in a friendly way and would show an ID.  They are not Network Rail staff; they work for the company Land Sheriffs who are contracted by Network Rail for security work.  Personally I think they should be clearly identified as working for Network Rail, but Network Rail want to retain a distinction between their own staff and subcontractors.  We agreed to differ on that point.Anyway, the point about anonymous uniformed staff has been made, and Network Rail are at least aware of the concerns raised here.

Richard Jennings ● 4508d

The growth of operations by unofficial security and police style agencies (even used by the Met I understand in certain situations) in the UK and internationally to do this type of work is probably a subject in itself for more open discussion though full facts are often hard to easily get as this thread shows.

Joe Conneely ● 4507d

The graffiti along the railway line is ,mainly a Network Rail problem.  They have to give permission and access to those who are to remove the graffiti.  This can only be done when the railway linesare not in use - so the removers of the graffiti need to liaise with Network Rail to arrange a suitable time to dothe job.This could be done at the same time as the tree work.Ealing Council are aware of this problem.

Dee Cook ● 4507d

"This can only be done when the railway lines are not in use - so the removers of the graffiti need to liaise with Network Rail to arrange a suitable time to do the job."London Underground don't seem to have a problem keeping their lines free of graffiti, despite their more intense train services.  Network Rail have never tackled graffiti with enough determination.

Richard Jennings ● 4507d

Oh well done Richard. Getting a response is a triumph.

Sara Nathan ● 4506d

There is also a problem of dealing with the people who are gaining access to the railway line to carry out their 'graffitting'.This is a big security issue which I have mentioned to Network Rail before, which needs to be addressed.

Dee Cook ● 4505d

It was their last shift this evening. The chap said they had caught 40 vehicles crossing once the red lights were flashing, four of them today. They had got one person (or possibly car) for criminal damage - they tried to get through the closed/closing barriers and bent it. Several trespassers, a drunk, a couple of grafittiers, a few fare evaders.Doesn't sound much of a haul to me - given they had four people on a day for a fortnight. I wonder what it cost. I would have suggested they would do better to cut down the overhanging vegetation, but it was a bit late...

Sara Nathan ● 4500d

I don't expect it's cheap to repair a damaged level crossing barrier. One barrier got stuck a couple of years ago because it was damaged. That on its own delayed trains and caused tailbacks - things which people grumble about when they happen.And network rail have a big problem with cable theft - that problem doesn't go away for free.

Ben Smith ● 4500d

They didn't mention cable theft at all. No sure that was in the spec.

Sara Nathan ● 4500d

There has already been a number of allegations made of harassment against the land sheriffs. They have also been verbally abusive. Most or some  of the guards are ex-soldiers and bailiffs. Land sherrifs were once bailiffs before they got contracted by network rail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOrNZbJnWh8

angrydrunkbum ● 4484d

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOrNZbJnWh8

angrydrunkbum ● 4484d

If you google Land Sherrifs they are video of harassment.

Peter Jones ● 4484d