Rail group 'bans' help for kids

The railway welcomes thousands of children every year

Staff at a Devon heritage railway can no longer help children off trains, because of the risk of being accused of inappropriate behaviour.

It follows a case in which a volunteer driver at another steam railway in Hampshire was convicted of indecently assaulting a six-year-old child.

South Devon Railway, which runs steam trains between Buckfastleigh and Totnes said the new policy was common sense.

But spokesman John Haslem admitted it was "a sad reflection on society".

This simple and robust policy is to make sure that the risk an opportunity of inappropriate behaviour or wrongful accusations cannot arise John Haslem

The policy was prompted by a case in which convicted paedophile George Sully, 73, from Hampshire, indecently assaulted a girl on the Hampshire Watercress Line.

He was given an indeterminate sentence in June this year.

Heritage Railway Association has asked all members to review their procedures and the South Devon organisation has produced new guidelines.

Mr Haslem said: "We encourage parents to get out of the train before their child to help the child down.

"Our staff must not touch a child unless it is in clear view of the parent and the parent can see that there is no inappropriate behaviour.

"However we will intervene if there is imminent risk of injury.

"This simple and robust policy is to make sure that the risk an opportunity of inappropriate behaviour or wrongful accusations cannot arise."

He said that the railway got to know most volunteers well before they were allowed to work with the public.

He said: "We take precautions to make sure that volunteers and paid staff are not allowed to get into a one-to-one situation with any child."

He added: "We welcome thousands of young children to South Devon Railway every year without problem.

"We have never had a child protection issue in the 38 years of the line."