NEWS:     TACKLING KNIFE CRIME � BTP AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS LAUNCH OPERATION OPINEL

NOTICE:   MOBILE PHONE SCAM WARNING

NEWS:     DRUG DEALER RECEIVES JAIL SENTENCE AFTER LIGHTING UP AT FINSBURY PARK STATION

Tackling knife crime � BTP and international partners launch Operation Opinel

St Pancras and Ebbsfleet officers recently joined forces with their French and Belgian counterparts to launch Operation Opinel, a two-day proactive operation to detect and reduce the number of people coming into the UK with offensive weapons.

On Monday 27 July London North officers travelled to Paris and Brussels to help launch the operation in partnership with Steve Birchal from Eurostar.

Officers were on hand to provide a visible presence at the international terminals and also gave out literature and advice to warn people about the risks they faced when travelling on the railways with offensive weapons.

Operation Opinel, which is supported by the Home Office�s �Tackling Knives Action Programme�, sees BTP and Eurostar collaborating with French rail operators SNCF, Belgian railway operators SNCB, French Customs, the Douane, French Police (PAF), Belgian Federal Police and Belgian Securerail.

Last year Eurostar seized more than 6,000 offensive weapons at St Pancras, Ebbsfleet and Ashford stations.

The majority of objects being brought in were opinel knives, which tend to be used for slicing food. However, over the last year BTP were called to more than 200 incidents where passengers were found to be in possession of more dangerous weapons, which could have been used to cause harm to others.

Chief Inspector Theresa Ferguson, who was on hand to oversee Operation Opinel, said:� The two-day launch was a great success and we were able to seize 16 weapons, ranging from knives, fireworks and CS Spray, from passengers coming into the UK.

�Op Opinel is a fantastic opportunity for joint partnership working with our international colleagues to educate people that they will receive fines and in some cases a prison sentence, if they try and bring weapons into the country.�

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Mobile phone scam warning

Officers and staff are advised to be aware of a mobile phone scam that allows a fraudulent company to make calls at the phone user�s expense.

The scam involves a user receiving a call from a person saying they are a company engineer, or telling the user that they are checking the mobile line.

The caller then asks the user to press #90 or #09 or any other number. Pressing a number gives the caller access to the phone�s SIM card and allows them to make phone calls at the user�s expense.

Officers and staff are advised to end any such calls immediately, without pressing any numbers

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Drug dealer receives jail sentence after lighting up at Finsbury Park Station

A heroin and cocaine dealer who was caught after he openly smoked cannabis at Finsbury Park was sentenced this week to three years.

Mark Dalton, 19, of Stoke Newington, north London, was in court charged with possessing class A Drugs with intent to supply, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Dalton was arrested for possession of cannabis after casually lighting up on the platform at Finsbury Park station in April of last year.

BTP investigating officer, Detective Constable Alan Judd, said the investigation began after rail staff noticed the fragrant smell of cannabis and called police.

While in custody a further search of Dalton led to the discovery of 38 wraps of paper containing powdery substances.

Test revealed that the wraps contained almost �400 worth of class A drugs, including cocaine and heroin.

�Lighting up on the station platform was certainly a dopey thing to do,� said DC Judd.

�His casual approach to smoking cannabis in public ultimately led to his conviction for Class A drug dealing.�

Dalton originally denied he was selling the drugs and said they were intended for personal consumption.

However, following a search of his premises, officers found several items, including messages that referred to �dark� (slang for heroin) on a mobile phone, which suggested he was going to sell the drugs on.

Officers also found a set of micro-scales and numerous plastic bags used for storing drugs.

DC Judd added: �I would like to commend the work of DCs Matt Nolan and Juliet Jackson as without their good work the drugs may not have been uncovered and the ulterior crime may have gone undetected.�

Dalton pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.

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Fighting crime and serving the public: Kings Cross and St Pancras work together

Kings Cross and St Pancras officers joined forces recently to help an ill child at Kings Cross and search for a male suspected of rape wanted by North Yorkshire Police.

In the first case, Kings Cross PC Gary Pinner and PCSO Chris Pettitt were called to attend a young child who suffered an epileptic seizure and was having trouble breathing on Platform 6 of the Piccadilly Line.

The two officers helped move the boy across the busy station and there was a temporary road closure on Euston Road, so the ambulance could get to the local hospital. This was facilitated in cooperation with St Pancras and response unit officers.

Sgt Matthew Goldspink said: �Our response to this incident was a fine example of team-work between Kings Cross� NPT, St Pancras officers and the Area�s response unit.

�The father of the child has extended his gratitude to the officers for their quick response and assistance, which meant that his son�s condition did not get any worse.�

In the second incident, the Kings Cross NPT was asked by North Yorkshire Police to check a train arriving from York for a Greek male who may have been on the train and was wanted for suspected rape offences.

Kings Cross and St Pancras officers worked together to try and find the male who was spotted at both stations. CCTV images were then distributed and the male was eventually tracked down on Underground CCTV on the Piccadilly line. 

Inspector Stuart Downs the London North Duty Officer said: �This incident demonstrates excellent partnership working between a Home Office Force and different teams within BTP.�

�It also shows what can be achieved by appropriate dynamic intervention and how an alleged offence hundreds of miles away can affect London North.

�I am also pleased that we were able to assist in the apprehension of this male before he was able to leave the country,� added Insp Downs

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Essex man charged after person spots him walking away with cable

A Basildon man has been charged with theft of cable after being spotted by member of the public who saw him leave the tracks with overhead cable.

Troy Magree, 38, of Basildon, has recently been charged with stealing more than �1000 worth of cable from the Stanford Le Hope area.

On Wednesday 22 July, Magree was reported to the police for acting suspiciously around the railway line. He was then spotted by a member of the public carrying a large amount of green overhead line cable away from the tracks.

Detective Constable Michael Hatcher, investigating officer, said that he was able to track Magree down to a Basildon address because a member of the public had provided an accurate description of his vehicle. 

Operation Drum officers DCs Michael Hatcher and Gerald Griffin, assisted by Southend officers and Network Rail staff, were able to locate the stolen cable to a scrap metal dealership in the Benfleet area.

DC Hatcher said: �I would like to say thank you to the team at Southend and in particular PCs Matt Bass and Paul Curran for their local knowledge, which helped us to track the cable down and subsequently charge Magree for the offences.�

�I hope that the courts will take into consideration the seriousness and dangerous nature of the crime and hands out a sentence Magree deserves.�

Magree is expected to appear in court for sentencing in August.

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Drunken passenger admits guilt to rail staff assault

A drunken passenger who assaulted a conductor in an unprovoked attack has pleaded guilty to charges of assault and travel fraud offences.

Mumba Katalyi, 23, appeared in court recently and was given a 12 month community service order and a 12 month supervision order. He was also ordered to pay �50 in compensation to the victim, �9.50 to National Express East Anglia (NXEA) and a �60 fine.

At the beginning of July, Katalyi was travelling on an Ipswich to Lowestoft NXEA train when he was asked to show a ticket to the conductor. At first Katalyi said he didn�t have one and then produced a child ticket.

As the conductor was inspecting the ticket Katalyi grabbed his arm and twisted it, while shouting abuse at him.

The incident was reported to the police and Katalyi was arrested on arrival at Halesworth station by PC Wendy Summerfield, Suffolk Police, and detained overnight at the local station. .

PC John Wright, investigating officer, said: �This was a callous attack on an innocent member of rail staff who was only trying to do his job.�

�Katalyi was unrepentant over what he had done and I am pleased that the courts punished him for both offences.�

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�Shopwatch�: using the airwaves to tackle crime at Paddington

Paddington�s NPT has recently introduced the �Shopwatch� radio scheme to retail units at the station in order to coordinate efforts to tackle crime.

The BTP-funded scheme, which has also been rolled out at other stations on Area, has provided eight retailers and Network Rail their own radio handset enabling direct access to a Paddington officer.

Messages sent via the radio will mean that Paddington NPT will be able to provide a quicker response to any reported incident. Radio transmissions will also be picked up by other Shopwatch users and therefore the radio will also work as an early-warning system to other shops that might be subjected to criminal activity.

Paddington�s Sergeant Damon Lewis said: �Shopwatch is an excellent scheme as it will help the station�s retail units work together with BTP to fight crime at their stores.

�On launch day one of my officers issued a PND and carried out three searches as a result of a call on the Shopwatch network.�

Marks and Spencer�s Paddington Manager Marcus Maughan said: �I think that the Shopwatch radio scheme is going to prove to be very beneficial, not only in my store but also in all the participating shops in the station.

�This scheme demonstrates your (BTP) commitment to helping us tackle what is a growing problem in the UK in the current economic climate.�

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Botched cable job leads to death of suspect

A botched cable theft job which saw one man killed and another seriously injured has resulted in a 12 month community order for the surviving offender.

Jay Cosans, 22, of Tilbury, was recently sentenced to a 12 month community order and 150 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay �300 pounds compensation and �70 in court costs.

On Wednesday 8 July, Paul Fowkes and Jay Cosans attempted to steal copper cable on the tracks at Fort Road, Tilbury, Essex. The incident did not go to plan and resulted in Fowkes being electrocuted and Cosans received burns to his left hand.

London North and Essex officers, alongside Essex emergency services, attended to Mr Fowkes, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and Cosans who was arrested for the offence.

Operation Drum officers continued the investigation, interviewing Cosans who  originally stated that he was taking a short cut home with Mr Fowkes and that he innocently caught some loose cable and was electrocuted.

During subsequent interviews Cosans eventually admitted to being trackside with Mr Fowkes and that they were trying to steal the cable.

PC Matthew Nolan, of the Operation Drum team, said: �This was an unfortunate incident with one of the suspects being killed while stealing the cable.

�Nonetheless, we worked hard on preparing the case and I am pleased that the courts recognised the severity of the crime when passing sentence on Cosans.� 

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Chatty luggage thief caught following a call to dad

A luggage thief who stole a suitcase on board a train was snared after he used a passenger�s phone to call his father for a lift home.

Alex Wise, 29, of Spalding, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to eight months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court after pleading guilty to a charge of theft.

At the beginning of the year, Wise stole a black suitcase with approximately �2000 worth of contents while travelling on a London Kings Cross to Newcastle service.

A female passenger who placed her case containing a selection of designer clothes and valuable jewellery in the luggage vestibule found it to be missing when she checked for it at Doncaster.

Prior to the theft, Wise had asked a fellow passenger if he could use her mobile phone to call his father for a pick-up at Peterborough, where he later departed the train with the suitcase. 

When the victim realised her bag was missing she asked passengers if they had seen anything suspicious and was told by the woman who lent Wise her phone that he may have been the culprit.

The victim then noted the phone number that Wise had called - which turned out to be his father�s number - and later passed this to police.

Wise was arrested after British Transport Police (BTP) officers used the phone number and called it back.

Confronted with the allegation he was requested to attend the police station, which he did so voluntarily.

PC Simon Corden, investigating Officer, said: �Wise set himself-up to be caught when he made the gaffe of calling his dad using someone else�s phone.

�The victim�s quick-thinking led her to ask the other passengers if they had seen anything suspicious, with one person saying that Wise had used their phone.

�The victim then passed the unidentified number to the police, which we were able to use to quickly track down the suspect.�

PC Corden added: �The eight month custodial sentence Wise received is a direct response to the foolhardy nature of the theft and the severity of the sentence should be viewed as a deterrent for individuals who intend to commit crimes such as this on the railways.�

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BTP Rugby Club set for charity match

The BTP Rugby Club is inviting officers and staff are to attend their next match, which will see them raising money for a children�s charity.

The team are set to play a side from the Child Victims of Crime charity on Wednesday 2 September, with the BTP team presenting a gift to the charity after the game.

For further information about the match or to confirm attendance, please contact PCs Nick Loader and Julian Gardiner via email.

Date: 2 September 2009

Venue: East London Rugby Club

Kick off: 2pm TBC

Nearest Tube/rail station: West Ham

For further information about the Child Victims of Crime charity, click here.

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