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Are these really network rail personnel?

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Mojo

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If I saw an old granny wondering around the side of the line in a HiVi then I'd be asking questions too. Doesn't mean I'm ageist.
 

stut

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FWIW (if the OP is concerned about the particular nationality of the people in question), Romanian is a romance language (like French or Italian) rather than a Slavic language (like Polish or Russian), and, while there are some Slavic influences, it does sound very different.
 

John55

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The report of east europeans being involved in metal theft is supported by stories in the Sunday Times and Times newspapers last sunday/monday (13th/14th Nov).

The articles were based around the threat to the national infrastructure in general and the problems caused to the emergency services in particular by thefts of cabling and other material. The resulting failures of the phone lines to the coastguard and ambulance services being especially highlighted.

In the course of the article the British Transport Police were quoted as having identified that certain east european gangs formerly associated with human trafficing had realised that stealing copper cable and the like was an easy and low risk activity and had therefore moved into the business. Emphasis on business as they are well organised and good at theft in a way that opportunistic thieves are not.

It also mentioned there have been 6 deaths in recent times of thieves coming into contact with live cabling (mainly in electricity supply facilities).

However the case reported of metal plaques being removed from a war memorial and sold to a scrap dealer was all down to a home grown thief.
 

es373

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Why cause so much controversy in a simple thread?

Whatever race or background they're from is just a factor of the situation in hand. No need to shoot the poor bugger down for it!

He's suspicious about some people paying more attention to the houses than the railway... I bloody well would be too. I wouldn't want my house burgled by anyone let alone more cable theft going on. I think its 100% worth a call to the BTP and let them watch the place.

I would also set up cameras in the back garden mounted on the house to watch the general area.......... just as a precaution.
 

BRX

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If (s)he meant someone clearly beyond working age, it's a stupid analogy.

If (s)he meant literally a granny, who's to say that a granny is necessarily beyond working age? So it would indeed be ageist.

Probably slightly sexist too. Who's the least likely person to be capable of working on a railway? Not just an old person, but a woman! The mind boggles.
 

Bedpan

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If I saw what the OP saw I would be worried, particularly if they seemed to be paying more attention to the nearby houses than the railway, and I lived in one of the houses.

Ther fact that they appearede to be Eastern European is just one of a number of factordr which led him to be ssupicious, and he has cklearly come on here for advice. What was he supposed to do? Post that he saw some men on the railway taking notes and looking at houses? If he had done, without expressing all of his concerns, he would have probably have been told that he had won the prize for the stupidest thread on the forum.
 
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Bungle73

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How does seeing a granny on the line equate to seeing a few blokes of working age who happen to be speaking in a foreign language?
 
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NightatLaira

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The level of political correctness in this thread is just going off the scale! I can't tell who's being sarcastic, who's being genuine or who's just lost the plot...

Shame really - as it started out as quite a good thread. :roll:
 

Mojo

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How does seeing a granny on the line equate to seeing a few blokes of working age who happen to be speaking in a foreign language?
Because by the same virtue I might be suspicious that Network Rail employ old people to carry out manual labour, I might also be suspicious that they employ people from certain countries.
 

ralphchadkirk

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Because by the same virtue I might be suspicious that Network Rail employ old people to carry out manual labour, I might also be suspicious that they employ people from certain countries.

Why would you be suspicious as to whether NR employ people from "certain countries". As long a they do their job properly what's to be suspicious of?

This country seems to love stereotyping: all eastern Europeans are illegal immigrants/criminals, all gypsies are theives, all Muslims are suicide bombers, all catholic priest are paedophiles. Where do we stop, and where will we draw the line?


Sent from my iPhone 4 using Tapatalk
 

chris89

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The level of political correctness in this thread is just going off the scale! I can't tell who's being sarcastic, who's being genuine or who's just lost the plot...

Shame really - as it started out as quite a good thread. :roll:

I agree :/

The OP come onto hear to request/ ask for help what to do. If i saw anyone being/ acting suspious around railways, housing, cars etc i would be concerned and then would try to get in contact with the Authoiries no matter what nationality they could possibly be.

I hope that the OP does follow up for what the reply is that he gets.

Chris
 

Mojo

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Why would you be suspicious as to whether NR employ people from "certain countries".
Because if their employee database shows they employ 0 people from country X then I would be suspect if someone from that country was wondering around the trackside.
 

ralphchadkirk

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Because if their employee database shows they employ 0 people from country X then I would be suspect if someone from that country was wondering around the trackside.

What about TOCs, FOCs and contractors? They all have staff about on the railway.
 

Bungle73

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Because if their employee database shows they employ 0 people from country X then I would be suspect if someone from that country was wondering around the trackside.

You have full access to Network Rail's employee database?
 

BRX

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So... someone phones up BTP/Network Rail/whatever and says

"I saw some people on the railway, they sounded like they were speaking a foreign language, I think it could have been Polish or Russian"

"Thank you sir. I'll just check our database"

"Well it looks like there are no Russians or Poles on the Network Rail database so I'll send out the police chopper ASAP"

That's how it works is it?
 

AlterEgo

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So... someone phones up BTP/Network Rail/whatever and says

"I saw some people on the railway, they sounded like they were speaking a foreign language, I think it could have been Polish or Russian"

No, they'd say:

"I saw some people on the railway, who didn't look quite right to me. They seemed far more concerned with the houses around the railway rather than the railway itself. Also, they sounded like they were speaking a foreign language, I think it could have been Polish or Russian. It may just be me but I've heard on the news some Eastern European gangs have been stealing metal. I know how big a problem that is for you, and just thought I'd give you a call."

BTP/NR:

"Thanks for your call. I'm sure nothing is amiss, but we'll check it out to be sure. Have a nice weekend."
 

Hydro

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Because if their employee database shows they employ 0 people from country X then I would be suspect if someone from that country was wondering around the trackside.


NR employs people from all weird and wonderful places, I work with a Pole (and I couldn't place his accent as Polish if I took Polish lessons. His sounds like a comedy 1970's sitcom generic accent) and have worked with a fellow who moved from Zimbabwe. My mates in London have loads of foreign accented workmates, Poles, South Africans, in fact Africans from all over that continent, West Indians, you name it. Contractors will probably have a higher proportion! If a location has any kind of sizeable migrant population then penny to a pound, shock horror, some will likely find work on the railway.

It's not even confirmed these people were indeed NR. You also cannot determine someones nationality from their accent. 1) Could be a migrant, 2) I couldn't tell you Latvian accented English from Polish from Lithuanian from whatever.
 

DarloRich

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NR employs people from all weird and wonderful places, I work with a Pole (and I couldn't place his accent as Polish if I took Polish lessons. His sounds like a comedy 1970's sitcom generic accent) and have worked with a fellow who moved from Zimbabwe. My mates in London have loads of foreign accented workmates, Poles, South Africans, in fact Africans from all over that continent, West Indians, you name it. Contractors will probably have a higher proportion! If a location has any kind of sizeable migrant population then penny to a pound, shock horror, some will likely find work on the railway.

It's not even confirmed these people were indeed NR. You also cannot determine someones nationality from their accent. 1) Could be a migrant, 2) I couldn't tell you Latvian accented English from Polish from Lithuanian from whatever.

Very true Hydro - there seems to have been a lot of wibble on here over what seems to have been a genuine request for information which was then hijacked by the liberal/right wing debate!
 

Railsigns

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Because if their employee database shows they employ 0 people from country X then I would be suspect if someone from that country was wondering around the trackside.
Wondering or wandering?
 

Hydro

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I wonder around the trackside frequently. Generally with a ponderous expression, puffing on a large pipe and saying "hmmmmm" a lot.
 

es373

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Lol BRX I think it's best you don't post on this specific topic, you're clearly missing the point and are just trying to poke the hornets nest with a sharp stick!
 

185

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Train drivers are never Russian.

They usually stroll out of the mess room at the last minute.

........

(At least this threads taken the heat off us Scousers for a bit :) )
 

ole man

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Yep - you can get them from IKEA...
Every person employed on Network Rail infrastructure has to have Hi-Viz with there Sponsor or Company on it , but has many agency workers have various sponsors it doesn't really work
 
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