Greater Anglia’s team of Land Sheriffs have been expanded across the region after they have proved themselves to be real life-savers.

There are now 30 Land Sheriffs working across the region who offer reassurance to passengers and also help other staff with situations like collecting penalty fares.

They are also trained to help spot and prevent potential suicides at stations – and so far this year they have been credited with preventing seven potential suicides. They have been trained by the Samaritans to spot people who might be suicidal.

They aim to provide a reassuring presence and additional support to railway staff and the British Transport Police in keeping rail travellers safe and secure.

The Land Sheriffs also deal with anti-social behaviour, fare evaders and enforce the railway bylaws.

But they also provide a friendly face and often help passengers during their journey, by carrying luggage and assisting those boarding with pushchairs.

Greater Anglia’s Head of Customer Service, Neil Grabham, said, “Rail travel is generally a very safe and secure mode of transport, but we want passengers to feel safe when they travel with us and the Land Sheriffs do a great job of deterring crime, dealing with anti-social behaviour and providing a reassuring presence to passengers on trains and at stations.”

The first Land Sheriffs were appointed by Greater Anglia in 2015 and over the last three years they have become quite familiar characters in their distinctive uniforms on the region’s rail network.

In total, the company has 30 dedicated Land Sheriffs who patrol trains and stations in East Anglia.

They target stations and rail services that have particular issues – and also major events which encourage a large number of people to travel by rail.

The Land Sheriffs were on board trains between Norwich and Ipswich on Sunday for the East Anglian derby match – and also helped passengers heading to the RISE Festival in Chelmsford last month.

Greater Anglia also works closely with the British Transport Police, Samaritans and rail pastors to protect the travelling public and railway staff, deter crime and anti-social behaviour and prevent suicides.