Youth workers are being deployed on Southern and Thameslink services between London and coastal towns in the South East to address antisocial behaviour, while also safeguarding vulnerable young people and preventing exploitation.

Rail operators have awarded nearly £50,000 in community funding to launch On The Tracks, placing youth workers for the first time on trains between East Croydon and Brighton to provide a “visible, supportive presence” and early intervention. Delivered by the Brighton based Trust for Developing Communities, the scheme saw workers engage with a young person on average every two minutes on its first day.

Operators said the project responds to concerns from communities, businesses and frontline professionals following “significant safeguarding challenges” in previous summers