A Merseyside town was shocked after a video of a vicious attack went viral overnight.
The video, that the ECHO shared on Tuesday, shows a group of thugs threatening and assaulting a train station security guard at Formby Train Station. The group of around six boys are seen to be kicking and chasing two members of staff through the train station.
British Transport Police confirmed it received reports of rail staff assault at the station at 7.37pm on Sunday, April 3. A spokesperson for BTP said that enquiries remain ongoing into this incident.
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A spokesperson for BTP told the ECHO: "British Transport Police received a report at 7.37pm on Sunday, April 3 of a rail staff assault at Formby railway station. We are aware of footage showing this incident being circulated on social media and enquiries remain ongoing.
"Any witnesses, or anyone with video footage of the incident, are urged to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 531 of 3 April. Officers are conducting increased patrols in the area following the incident."
People in the town have now reacted to the incident and a recent spike in antisocial behaviour that some people believe has happened in recent years. A 27-year-old from Formby said: "We don't really have any police in Formby and a lot of people think when things like assault happen that it's someone who isn't from Formby.
"But antisocial behaviour seems to be on the rise and I see more young people hanging out on street corners. It's definitely on the up."
A mum who lives next to the train station told the ECHO that police crackdown on any antisocial behaviour in the area. She said: "We haven’t noticed anything and I wouldn’t say there’s a trend of antisocial behaviour.
"I don’t feel threatened at all, when anything does happen the police are straight on it and I didn’t even know about the video until now. We had an issue at the park where kids were throwing fireworks and the police were straight on that.
"No one has said anything about being worried about anti-social behaviour and I don’t think there are many instances of it."
Another woman, also living close to the station, said: "I wasn’t aware of anything happening, it’s a quiet area with little trouble. I don’t understand what makes people do things like that though, it’s shocking.
"It’s probably alcohol and drugs that cause it. Considering I live next to the station we never hear or see anything like that happening."
ECHO readers also had their say on the shocking footage. Roy Sutton wrote: "Feral youth. This is not civilisation, it’s barbarism and it doesn’t reflect well on any of us. If this is where society is heading then we’re staring at the gates of hell."
Patsy Langley said: "Should be ashamed of themselves disgusting behaviour hope they get caught."
