‘Please help my mummy and daddy come home safely’ says 10-year-old in security message

Railway worker’s daughter Izzy has voiced a new security message

A 10-year-old schoolgirl has re-recorded one of the most repeated railway station safety announcements in a bid to increase security on Britain’s biggest train company.

Railway worker’s daughter Izzy from Kent, now voices the message asking passengers to keep an eye out for unattended items or anyone acting suspiciously on Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.

“Please help ensure my mummy and daddy come home from work today safely,” she says through platform speakers in 236 stations across London, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

Stella Rogers, Head of Security for the four train routes, which are operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), said:

“The UK is in a heightened state of security and it is more important than ever, after the atrocities in Belgium, for passengers to keep a look-out for abandoned bags and suspicious behaviour.

“The announcements we make are so well known they just blend into the background noise of the station and are ignored.

“Izzy’s childish voice imploring passengers to help her mum and dad get home safely will hopefully make people sit up and take notice.”

Mindful that any message repeated too many times can itself become overlooked, GTR is scheduling the announcements to run one week in every four as an initial trial, starting this week. There are also plans for people from other walks of life to voice the message.

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Editor's notes

The full text of the announcement reads: “Please help ensure my mummy and daddy come home from work today safely by keeping a look-out for any unattended items or anyone acting suspiciously. If you see anything, please contact a member of railway staff or a police officer. Thank you.”

We are not releasing Izzy’s full name for her own security.