Network
Rail


has
discovered
that
23
per
cent
of
people
in
Britain
don’t
know
that
fly-tipping
is
illegal,
according
to
the
results
of
a
new
survey
of
2,000
people.

Fly-tipping
is
classed
as
a
form
of
vandalism
because
it
is
not
only
unsightly
but
can
also
delay
trains
or
even
cause
accidents.

The
new
figures
have
been
released
to
mark
Gobal
Recycling
Day,
and
they
vary
according
to
the
age
of
those
who
responded
to
the
survey,
which
was
carried
out
by
One
Poll
last
month.

The
youngest
respondents
were
the
least
well-informed,
with
46
per
cent
of
Generation
Z
–
adults
born
since
1996
–
unaware
that
fly-tipping
is
a
criminal
offence.
That
figure
falls
to
18
per
cent
for
people
born
between
1965
and
1980,
and
to
8
per
cent
for
people
born
in
1964
or
earlier.

The
research
also
suggests
that
more
than
one
in
five
people
(22
per
cent)
do
not
believe
fly-tipping
damages
the
environment.
Despite
their
reputation
as
the
most
environmentally-friendly
generation,
42
per
cent
of
Generation
Z
wrongly
believe
this,
compared
with
1
in
10
(or
11
per
cent)
of
people
born
before
1965.

Network
Rail
has
unveiled
a
demonstration
pile
of
mattresses,
white
goods
and
other
electrical
items
at
London
King’s
Cross
station
today,
because
such
things
are
among
those
most
commonly
dumped
on
railway
property.

Waste
can
attract
rats
that
chew
on
cables,
leading
to
signal
failures
and
even
accidents,
while
metal
cans
and
foil
can
affect
signalling
by
damaging
the
cables.
Tipping
is
also
a
source
of
pollution,
a
potential
danger
to
public
health
and
a
hazard
to
wildlife.

The
Kent
route
has
recorded
316
reports
of
fly-tipping
from
members
of
the
public
over
the
four
years
to
31
March
last
year,
while
the
Southern
region
as
a
whole
has
logged
797
incidents
during
the
same
period.
Altogether,
there
were
almost
4,000
reports
on
the
network
nationwide.

One
in
five
people
(22
per
cent)
have
seen
someone
fly-tipping
and
a
quarter
(23
per
cent)
had
witnessed
it
on
or
near
a
railway.
Yet
only
a
third
(36
per
cent)
of
such
people
had
reported
the
incident
to
their
local
council,
Crimestoppers,
or
a
transport
authority.

Network
Rail
cleans
up
the
rubbish,
and
works
with
British
Transport
Police
to
identify
and
prosecute
the
people
who
dump
it.
It
also
tries
to
prevent
dumping
in
the
first
place
by
keeping
an
eye
on
problem
areas
with
CCTV
and
strengthening
the
fencing
at
such
‘hotspots’.
It
also
uses
tyre-puncturing
‘nobblers’
at
gates
which
lead
to
railway
land.

Paul
Langley
is
Network
Rail’s
head
of
security,
crime
and
resilience
in
the
Southern
region.
He
said:
‘We’re
committed
to
running
a
safe,
reliable
and
efficient
railway
and
we
work
extremely
hard
throughout
the
year
cleaning
up
after
fly-tippers,
and
we
urge
everyone
to
report
any
incidents
of
fly-tipping
on
the
railway.’

Do
you
have
a
comment
on
this
story?
Please
click here  to
send
an
email
to
Platform
at
Railnews.

Moderated
comments
will
be
published
on
this
site,
and
may
also
be
used
in
the
next
print
edition.