World's Gone Mad

The news that British Transport Police have charged the 'big man' - who helped eject a troublesome student from a passenger train - will be greeted with dismay by all right-minded people.

See previous posts dated 21 and 19 December 2011 - Trainspotting and Fare's Fair.

Here's how the news was reported on the BBC's web site.

"Police have charged a man with assault after an alleged fare-dodger was removed from a train by a passenger.

Mobile phone recordings by a passenger on board the Edinburgh to Perth train on 9 December have been viewed by almost two million people on You Tube.

It shows a man - since dubbed 'Big Man' - throwing a teenager off a train after he argued with a ticket inspector.

British Transport Police said a 35-year-old man from Stirling had been charged with assault.

The man is understood to be Alan Pollock.

Meanwhile the student accused of fare dodging, 19-year-old Sam Main from Falkirk, has also been reported to the procurator fiscal, which decides whether to prosecute alleged crimes in Scotland.

He has been reported under Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing Act Scotland, and in connection with an allegation of trespass.

The You Tube video shows a passenger speaking to a conductor over an alleged unpaid fare.

He is then removed from the train by another passenger at Linlithgow."

Now the decision to charge the passenger who came to the conductor's aid - does not mean that he will be prosecuted - because that is a matter for the Crown Office and not the transport police.

But if he is charged it will turn Scotland into a laughing stock - in the eyes of the world.

Since the passenger at least had the courage to come to the aid of the conductor - and stand up to the boorish behaviour of the young student - who caused the problem in the first place.

For that matter any decision to charge the young student would be ridiculous as well - for the life of me I cannot see how either course of action would be in the public interest.

Nothing would have happened if the young student had produced a ticket, bought a new ticket - or simply got off the train.

But the fact that he can't face up to the consequences of his actions - hardly merits a criminal trial - or a criminal record.