If one approached me on a station and it was obvious he was trying to establish whether I was a suicide risk, I think I’d tell him to f*** off and mind his own business. Maybe that would be enough to convince him that I wasn’t going to jump?
Honestly when is the nanny state going to stop molly-coddling everyone? I get that suicide impacts drivers especially, but in reality a few guys in high-viz are never going to stop them all, and the investment to have them everywhere all the time is just too ridiculous to contemplate. Ultimately someone has fund to their wages so we will all end up paying higher fares or taxes.
dear me. This post massively misunderstands the point in such a manner that it is hilariously wide of the mark. I wonder, also, if the poster might like to have a think about his appalling attitude. A person being paid, no doubt, minimum wage to stand in the cold and wet and try to stop people jumping in front of trains and you want to abuse them for doing the job they are asked to do. Shameful.
it is also clear that you have absolutely no idea of the costs involved in dealing with just one suicide on the railway.
PS: as far as I can tell, in reality there is no reason beyond anyone on a platform demonstrating that they have a legitimate right to be there (by showing they hold a ticket), railway staff have no right to be probing to the point of being convinced such a person is not a suicide risk. i.e. “Why are you here?” “I have this ticket and I am going to...” End of conversation.
The point of this activity still eludes you. It is clear your understanding of this topic and the behaviour of such people is extremely limited. You seem to fail to consider that the deceased may well have a ticket and have paid for parking at the station. But I am sure you know best.
The railway has managed without such a role for almost 200 years - why does is it need it now?
I wonder, perhaps, if the number of people killing themselves on the railway could have gone up in recent years? I wonder, perhaps, if there has been an associated increase in delay costs and health care costs for people impacted by suicide. I wonder, perhaps, if having similar people at stations on the southern WCML has reduced massively the number of on station suicides?
Nah, bound to be nanny state-ism or something.
but having them all the time at Wolverton and Cheddington seems a complete waste of resources to me. If their purpose really is to discourage suicides, they probably aught to wear something making them look a little more approachable, as right now the impression you get is one of oppressive overbearing security at these stations.
Without wishing to go into detail the stations you mention ARE, absolutely, high risk locations. I am sure you will understand why. The patrol staff are appropriately dressed to be visible and safe. The fact they are so visible is the deterrent.