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Page last updated at 12:33 GMT, Friday, 10 October 2008 13:33 UK

Brick smashes train's windscreen

Dundee Train Station
The train had been approaching the station when it was hit

British Transport Police (BTP) have been urged to rethink plans to move officers out of Dundee after a brick or stone was thrown at a moving train.

The windscreen of the Aberdeen to Edinburgh National Express service was smashed as it approached the station on Wednesday evening.

It comes as BTP plans to relocate four officers from Dundee Station to Perth at the end of the month.

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern believes passenger safety will be put at risk.

Enhanced service

No-one was hurt when the object hit the train at about 1940 BST on Wednesday, although the driver was left shaken.

BTP said it was an "extremely foolish and reckless act".

Mr McGovern said: "This is a very serious incident, which of course could have been much more serious had the stone or brick smashed through the driver's windscreen.

"The perpetrator of this crime put not only the driver's life in danger but also those of his passengers.

"I will be again writing to the British Transport Police following this incident to urge them to re-station officers of the British Transport Police at Dundee train station."

A spokesman for BTP said: "It is important to point out that British Transport Police is not withdrawing from policing Dundee railway station.

"The four officers stationed there will be relocated to Perth, the north sector headquarters, and the base at Dundee will remain.

"This will allow BTP to provide a more appropriate and, indeed, enhanced policing service for the whole of the north sector of BTP, including Dundee.

"This decision will make no difference to the way this type of incident is dealt with or investigated."


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