Banned for life: Rail firm's crackdown on passengers who put feet on seats

Inspectors wearing headmounted CCTV cameras will board trains to search for culprits in the latest in a series of measures against antisocial behaviour.

Bosses at Merseyrail said their actions had slashed the number of offences, including drunkenness and vandalism, but they now want to target the remaining minority of problem travellers.

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Putting feet on seat cushions contravenes railway bylaws.

However, the Liverpool-based train company is the first to have a "zero tolerance" policy towards offenders, with bosses saying most passengers "don't want to sit on a seat covered in mud or dirt".

Managing director Bart Schmeink said: "It is only fair to the vast majority of our lawabiding and fare-paying passengers that we tackle the small minority who continue to ignore the rules.

"Rather than continue to issue cautions and prosecute again and again in the knowledge they are unlikely to take any notice, I just do not want to see these people on the network any more."

Hundreds of passengers have already been prosecuted for breaching railway bylaws, including student Kathleen Jennings, 19, for stretching her feet out on seats.

Last September, the Daily Mail told how she had demanded the firm targeted "proper criminals" after a court called its stance "draconian".

However, Merseyrail is continuing its tough policies, believed to be the strictest in the country, after it reported that incidents of antisocial behaviour had dropped by 90 per cent.

Staff will no longer inform passengers over loudspeakers when inspectors have boarded a service to catch those putting their feet on seats.

Repeat offenders will be sent warning letters and, if caught again, they will be banned from the company's trains.

Video recordings from inspectors' head-mounted cameras provide evidence.

The inspectors can also film other offences, such as vandalism and fare-dodging.

When the drive against anti-social travellers began, they were each issuing ten cautions a day but this is down to an average of one daily.

The number of serious assaults on the network has also dropped by almost two-thirds in the past three years.

However, magistrates in Chester were unimpressed when they heard the case of Miss Jennings, a Manchester University maths student.

After being caught with her feet - clad in flip-flops - on the seat opposite, she told how an inspector asked her: "Are you comfortable?"

Miss Jennings added: "I said 'sorry' and moved my feet back to the floor. Then he said he wanted to see me when I got off the train."

He took down Miss Jennings's address, phone number, occupation and a description of what she was wearing.

The student was summoned to court accused of "wilfully interfering with the comfort or convenience" of other passengers.

She faced a fine of £1,000 and a criminal conviction but won the sympathy of the bench.

Magistrate Christine Abrams said: "While this may have been contrary to a bylaw, Merseyrail should have a less draconian method for dealing with matters of this nature. A fixed-penalty may be more appropriate."

Having been given an absolute discharge after pleading guilty, Miss Jennings and her family demanded that the inspectors targeted "proper criminals".

Since then, however, a similar policy has been launched in London. British Transport Police officers can issue £50 on-the-spot fines to rail or Tube passengers for offences including putting their feet on seats or playing music too loudly.