COMMUTERS have been urged to report crime and anti-social behaviour on the rail network using a discreet text messaging service.

The British Transport Police (BTP) has operated a text message crime reporting service for two years to allow people to report incidents and receive a live response and updates from officers.

BTP officers visited Darlington railway station this evening (Friday, March 6) during rush hour to promote the text number – 61016 – and hand out credit card size cards for people to slip into their wallets or purses.

In the two years the text service has been operating more than 10,000 messages have been sent to the non-emergency number, leading to arrests for drunk and disorderly behaviour, anti-social activity and vandalism.

Station staff and train operating companies are all backing the campaign which aims to increase passenger confidence, reduce crime and increase the reporting of crime.

A BTP spokeswoman said: “Feedback from users of the service has praised the discretion with which they are able to report concerns without drawing attention to themselves if they are in a vulnerable situation.

“Passengers who frequently travel alone say the service gives them extra confidence and makes them feel safer.”