BTP took the right decision not to prosecute

I cannot agree with Fraser Pithie’s suggestion that all Flying Scotsman trespassers should be prosecuted ( RAIL 801). Instead, I agree with the British Transport Police Chief Executive - some sections of the community might view this as disproportionate.

The media and social media coverage of the February 25 incident has made it clear to many that what happened is both dangerous and criminal (remember trespass outside of the railway is normally a civil, not criminal, matter). Hopefully this coverage, and the preparation ahead of subsequent trips, means that future incidents will be prevented.

If there are further trespass incidents and the police start to prosecute, then I believe that far fewer people will feel it is disproportionate. A line has been drawn in the sand for the future, which will mean a more robust approach can be taken.

And investigating reported crime is not as easy as Fraser seems to suggest. It can also be resourceintensive - not everyone will willingly accept a caution. Can the police see those cases through to prosecution? If they can’t, they will have an even bigger credibility problem than had they not investigated at all. And would the courts impose punishments that Fraser would consider a sufficient deterrent?

It seems to me that the BTP has made a judgment call on this one, balancing the arguments either way. Often the police are damned whatever they do - they are either too soft or they overreact. Fraser’s views are valid, but in this case I feel it is the BTP that has considered the wider picture. Paul McLoughlin, Romford