RAILWAY TRACKS PROACTIVELY PATROLLED BY HAMILTON POLICE

Hamilton police officers patrolled CN Rail train tracks at Sydenham Road at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Const. Indy Bharaj said officers were "partaking in proactive policing" and the patrol was not related to any specific investigation.

Asked if officers patrolling the railway tracks were looking for damage or trespassers, spokesperson Jackie Penman said officers were "proactively patrolling" and "there was no investigation and there was no search."

Penman said Hamilton

Police "officers will conduct proactive patrols in neighbourhoods across Hamilton when they are not on calls."

Penman said it was "rail safety week" and provided a link to a rail safety page at the City of Hamilton website, but did not say if the patrol was related.

According to the link, "Trespassing on railway tracks and property is the leading cause of rail-related deaths in Canada. Trespassing on rail property is illegal." Asked about the proactive police patrol, CN Rail spokesperson Jonathan Abecassis said, on Sept. 21: "Unfortunately at this time, we will decline to comment."