Teams of trained staff have been set up to tackle yobbery on the railways.

The workers are being sent out on trains and to stations around Sussex to keep order and crack down on crime.

They have the power to issue fines for trespassing and graffiti, seize alcohol from underage drinkers and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Railway company Southern and British Transport Police jointly launched four teams yesterday, made up of a total of 32 “railway neighbourhood officers”, or RNOs.

One team is based at Hove, the others at Purley, covering an area stretching from central London to the Sussex coast.

Each dedicated group of seven, funded by Southern, is to work full-time under a police constable, overseen by an area sergeant and an inspector.

Police said they will be sent to stations or routes according to where problems arise.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Pacey said: “While we already have officers based in Brighton who tackle crime and passenger safety issues on trains and stations across the south, these additional teams will act as a reassuring presence patrolling the line from London, down to Brighton and along the south west coast."