TRAIN users who put their feet on seats face prosecution and fines. Merseyrail is launching a two-pronged attack on offenders by ordering a crackdown by security guards and police. Anyone caught with their feet on a seat will be cautioned and summoned to a magistrates court and possibly given a fine. Anyone damaging a seat by putting their shoes on it could be arrested and charged with criminal damage. Officials have finally lost patience after spending £34m of taxpayers' money modernising trains. They believe a zero-tolerance approach is the only way to get the message across. Mersey travel chairman Mark Dowd said: "We use tannoy messages and posters on trains, but at the end of the day, some people just do not care. "Our trains are in tip-top condition and people must respect them. They would not do the same to their own home if they had just spent a fortune doing it up. "The police have said if they get evidence that someone has damaged a seat, they will act. "But it took us along time to stop people smoking on trains and that has largely worked." Merseyrail's private security guards will start issuing cautions in a few weeks' time after completing a training scheme. Security manager Mike Carroll said: "Guards will be empowered to take people's names and addresses and issue them with cautions. "They can then be brought before the courts on the basis of a by-law that stops people soiling railway property. "It has not been tested through a magistrates court yet, but we expect that to happen very soon." He added that on-the-spot fines are not an option for dealing with feet on seats. British Transport Police has promised a similar crackdown after talks with rail officials. Inspector Steven Bromfield said: "We support the campaign to stop people putting feet on seats, as it is clearly anti-social. "If a person damages the seat as a result of their actions, it could be reported as criminal damage. "Also, if someone refuses to co-operate with a member of rail staff or apolice officer on this matter, it could result in a public order offence." | 
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