It was a great honor for us in 2007 when LandSheriffs where selected, after a thorough selection process, to provide security for the UK stretch of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link NR (CTRL) for HighSpeed 1 (HS1).
More than just a railway, HS1 has been pivotal in the regeneration around the new international stations of Ebbsfleet, Stratford and St Pancras. We take great pride in the fact that we play a major role in the protection of these locations and that our continued presence has helped with the safety and security of these areas.
In 2009, Southeastern’s domestic high-speed services will be launched on HS1, dramatically shortening journey times to the Thames Gateway and Kent. LandSheriffs will play a key role in the security of this service which will improve journey times to just over half an hour to get from London to Ashford, and only 1 hour from London to Canterbury.
It is our aim to ensure HS1 is the safest, most secure railway not just in the UK but in the world and maintain the high standard of passenger safety and infrastructure security across the NR (CTRL) HS1 Network.
Our Role
Typical HS1 Patrol
Mobile patrols covering 200 – 250 miles per unit
109km (68 miles) of track
152 Bridges and connecting roads
Hundreds of Gantries
208km (129 miles) of perimeter fence
In excess of 300 locks and gates
Hundreds of km of cables
LandSheriffs Static Guards at Singlewell IMD
Several hundred square acres of land
6 Ventilation Shafts
Depots, numerous buildings, tunnel portals and under-bridges
All whilst the UK’s fastest train, holding a record set by Eurostar on 30th July, 2003 of 334.7km/h (208mph), speeds people safely to and from the continent.
Red Five on Patrol
International Stations
International Stations are one of the many major assets LandSheriffs protect. Working closely with the British Transport Police (BTP) & Home Office Forces we have extensive duties in the protection of station buildings, surrounding lands and property, including car parks. We provide a robust visual deterrent to all types of crime & criminals, from graffiti and petty theft to personal attacks of the travelling public. LandSheriffs are also a key early warning to any possible terrorism activity.
As part of the pivotal role in the protection of these HS1 International stations we employee several security procedures to ensure the safety of HS1 staff and travelling public. These include Mobile & Foot patrol of the perimeter of the station buildings and lands to detailed checks and inspections of the car parks, access roads and HS1 owned infrastructure.
St. Pancras, in the heart of London, is patrolled by our vehicles. Primarily looking after the perimeter and surroundings of the station.
Stratford International Station is complete and ready to play a key role in transporting hundreds of thousands of people to and from the Olympic Village in the heart of the Olympic development site. We complete regular visits into the Olympic site and check the Station building, its surroundings along with all the other major HS1 & EDF assets, etc. in the area.
Ebbsfleet International Station is situated near Dartford, it is opening up new travel opportunities for people living in north Kent. We have a dedicated patrol team looking after the station grounds and car parks, the teams responsibilities cover public and staff safety and prevention of car crime by continued and regular foot and vehicle patrols.
Since our teams have been stationed at Ebbsfleet International Station there have been no crime related incidents and the car park awarded a ‘Safe Parking Award’.
St. Pancras International
Stratford International
Ebbsfleet International
Graffiti Crackdown
Graffiti is a huge problem for all companies. A study for the London Assembly in 2004 found that the total cost for London was £100 Million with £6 Million for transport companies alone.
As part of LandSheriffs crackdown on graffiti a recording system was implemented so all discovered graffiti, whether it a small tag or a large image, on the HS1 network is logged and collated with a photograph and detailed report of location and content.
Thanks to this Graffiti Log system LandSheriffs have been pivotal in the capture and arrest of some of the most notorious graffiti artists and gangs in the South East of England. Intelligence gathered in these Graffiti Logs, through LandSheriffs Intelligence Bureau and Covert Surveillance have helped Police make arrests, gather additional intelligence from suspects homes, other gang members, infiltrate graffiti networks and make further key arrests.
During the opening of the HS1 Network LandSheriffs mobilised a unique, dedicated Graffiti Busting team. Deployed several weeks before the grand opening, which ran over a 3 month period in November 2007, ZERO graffiti attacks were recorded on the HS1 infrastructure during that time.
Graffiti on Underpass
Working with Diverse Groups & Neighbours on the Route
LandSheriffs take great pride in the strong working relationships that have been built whilst patrolling the HS1 infrastructure.
In the course of duties we work with a varied selection of public and private individuals and companies, these including Local Authorities, the BTP, Metropolitan, Essex & Kent Police Forces, other Security Companies, Local Farmers, Land Owners, Landlords, Residents, Companies, etc.
Patrolling units have daily contact with any number of these groups and its thanks to LandSheriffs close bonds that intelligence and other useful information is passed on to patrolling units without hesitation.
C.H.A.L.E.T
LandSheriffs staff are trained in all respects of NR (CTRL) Ltd emergency procedures. Known as C.H.A.L.E.T, this encompasses attending, assessing and LandSheriffs specific controlling role in the event of a major incident on the HS1 Line or tunnel.
In regular C.H.A.L.E.T safety exercises, ranging from major incident on the line to train derailment management, LandSheriffs staff have constantly received excellent scores in exercise reviews.
LandSheriffs have Classroom Training from senior Operational Management at NR (CTRL) Ltd and also work & train alongside Emergency Services.
C.H.A.L.E.T. Training
Personal Track Safety Training
Before any LandSheriffs staff member can complete preliminary training they have to pass a Drug & Alcohol test followed by a medical examination, only then can they take the Personal Track Safety Training once passed allowing them to access the HS1 rail network.
LandSheriffs also reserve the right to conduct random test on all members of staff to ensure the continued high standard of service that we offer our clients and the safety of the general public.
PTS Handbook
Union Railways Property
After a spate of large, organised fly tipping incidents, break-ins and property vandalism costing hundreds of thousands of pounds to remove, cleanup and repair, LandSheriffs were approached by Union Railways Property to supply a dedicated security service. We were entrusted to protect these valuable and vulnerable areas of land and property from further attacks from fly tippers and to extend the protection to cover travellers, squatters and opportunist thieves.
Union Railways Property are the property arm of HS1 Ltd and have numerous properties and land across the NR (CTRL) HS1 network, encompassing key areas some of which are highly sensitive. With years of specialist knowledge, expertise and using only the latest equipment LandSheriffs ensure Union Railways Property assets are fully protected.
