I will be reading whatever is sent quite thoroughly.

In fairness to Merseyrail, once I mentioned that he travelled by that route everyday in the course of his education and it wasn't his form to be disrespectful to the train or its users, the lad on the other end of the phone said that it wasn't a sensible policy to 'criminalise regular rail users'

I would say that if your 'actions' do not actively cause damage to the train or disruption to other rail users that this point is made, either to the bye-law officers on the train or once the first correspondance is recieved.

I also appreciate the difficulty facing Merseyrail, if people are complaining about this, they have to be seen to be doing something.

Is your son over 18 and has he actually received a Summons yet?

He is and he has.

I spoke to the "Revenue Protection" people at Merseyrail yesterday and asked them about the procedure for pleading not guilty by post.

They said that to do that is very complicated, but would he accept a written 'reprimand' that he has to sign, admitting that he had a foot on a seat, but not that he was causing discomfort etc. to other passengers.

There is no fine, no costs, but he will be on record for a period of time and any further breaches of bye-laws will be . . . . . . . . etc etc.

My son is also facing a similar charge. He had his feet on the frame of the seat as he adjusted his seat.

Has anyone written to anyone at Merseyrail to plead not guilty by letter, or does anyone have a contact number that I can ring?