Police Caution

[darkstar]

Today i was traveling from liverpool to Chester, a short train journey operated by Mersey Rail. My friend and i both put a foot up on the opposite seat, just on the very edge, not touching the actual fabric. We were then approached by 3 burley security guards who informed us it was a "cautionable" offense. We both apologised and told them we didn't know anything about this law (turns out Mersey Rail are the only company who enforce this) They then took all of our details including hair colour, clothes, address, phone number, date of birth etc We will get a letter from them and will be issued with a police caution, if we don't accept that we will have to go to court.
I am still in shock, it is not exactly the crime of the century, we both apologised and should at least get a warning before we are burdened with a Criminal Record? Or surely a fixed penalty would be more appropriate? A Police caution is on your record for the rest of your life!

 

[MacB]

Seems a bit harsh if you were polite and apologetic, but it is a bugbear of mine. They're called seats not footstools and I'm shocked by how many ignore that these days.

 

[thomas]

That's pathetic....and yes, I put my feet on the sofa in my house.

The Police do naff all when I've complained about nearly being run over, but they'll issue things for that.

Right to the Daily Wail

 

[ianrauk]

Sorry I have no sympathy. Why do you feel the need to put your feet on the opposite seat anyway?(even if you didn't touch the fabric). What would you say If I visited your home and did the same with your furniture? Having to endure commuting by train for many years it really is one of the most unsociable & selfish things that can make peoples daily commute a misery. I have lost count of the number of times I and others have accidentally sat in crap covered seats.
The treatment is a little harsh, a fixed penalty is probably fairer then a criminal records, but if that's what is needed to stop people doing the same then so be it.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Today i was traveling from liverpool to Chester, a short train journey operated by Mersey Rail. My friend and i both put a foot up on the opposite seat, just on the very edge, not touching the actual fabric. We were then approached by 3 burley security guards who informed us it was a "cautionable" offense. We both apologised and told them we didn't know anything about this law (turns out Mersey Rail are the only company who enforce this) They then took all of our details including hair colour, clothes, address, phone number, date of birth etc We will get a letter from them and will be issued with a police caution, if we don't accept that we will have to go to court.
I am still in shock, it is not exactly the crime of the century, we both apologised and should at least get a warning before we are burdened with a Criminal Record? Or surely a fixed penalty would be more appropriate? A Police caution is on your record for the rest of your life!

Balls.

Only a police officer can issue a caution, and that is after a police officer has arrested or interviewed under caution.

A 'burly' security guard is just that. Complain to the railway and ask to have your details removed from their files, or you'll seek redress under the Data Protection Act.

Oh, and plus 1 as the others have said, don't put your feet on the seat in the first place.

 

[ianrauk]

That's cool Thomas, when I visit your house for tea and biccies I will put my crap covered shoes all over your furniture.

That's pathetic....and yes, I put my feet on the sofa in my house.

The Police do naff all when I've complained about nearly being run over, but they'll issue things for that.

Right to the Daily Wail

 

[Wigsie]

Don't cautions only last a few years? I recieved one for "fraud" when I was 17! was hoping it had gone by now.

You won't think its useless next time you travel outside mersey rail territory and you sit in a pile of dog Sh*t that someone has left there after putting their feet up.

In all seriousness its just jumped up morons flexing the might of their authority as security guards, wouldnt lose any sleep over it.

 

[gaz]

ouch, i would not have given any details over... and asked to see detailed information of a warning sign on the train, without that they are in no doubt breaching some kind of law them selfs.

 

[thomas]

That's cool Thomas, when I visit your house for tea and biccies I will put my crap covered shoes all over your furniture.

If you bring the biccies

I will agree that putting crap covered shoes is anti-social...however, I wasn't suggesting putting your wellingtons on the seat after a day helping out a farmer - I could understand that.

To be fair. I've sat on the floor on trains without getting crap all over myself...and that is wear feet are meant to go.

 

[Bromptonaut]

A google search will find plenty of information. Merseyrail have taken a stand on this "in resonse to customer complaints". Cannot find anything on their website though.

 

[Bromptonaut]

And on the subject of cautions remaining in file, the answer would seem to be forever unless they are deleted after a certain period under police regs or practice guidance. Cautions are not convictions and do not therefore become "spent" under the rehabilitation of offenders act.

 

[thomas]

Cautions are not convictions and do not therefore become "spent" under the rehabilitation of offenders act.

America won't let you visit now...

 

[Wigsie]

And on the subject of cautions remaining in file, the answer would seem to be forever unless they are deleted after a certain period under police regs or practice guidance. Cautions are not convictions and do not therefore become "spent" under the rehabilitation of offenders act.

WHAT?

So my so called "Fraud" caution will haunt me till the bitter end? !

Didn't affect me getting a shot gun licence so can't be that serious.

 

[Bman]

IANAL

But thinking about this it sounds like the security guards are going to report the offence to the police and therefore the police could arrest, question and most likely caution the offender/s. I assume that the security guards way of explaining the situation misled the OP into thinking they were the ones giving the caution, not the police.

I assume they have some sort of bylaw that makes this an offence.

 

[PaulB]

Merseyrail stinks of shoot. Official.

They will do all they can to prosecute normally innocent, law-abiding people for trivial offences but the most evil, nasty lowlives who've crawled from under rocks can get away with unspeakable horrors on that network with almost total impunity. Merseyrail have effectively created a net that catches the small fish and lets the big ones go free to do as they please.