You see a passenger leaving a bag unattended on the platform. What do you do?

Situation

Imagine I am waiting at a station platform and I notice a passenger set down a large bag, look around briefly, and then walk quickly towards the exit without it. The bag is unattended near the platform edge.

Task

I needed to act quickly in line with security protocols without approaching or touching the bag myself.

Action

I would immediately alert station staff or British Transport Police using the emergency help point or my radio, giving a clear description of the bag and its exact location. I would not approach or touch the bag under any circumstances. If I could do so safely, I would move other passengers away from the immediate area and keep people back until trained security staff arrived.

Result

Security staff would assess the bag following standard protocols. Whether the bag turned out to be innocent or a genuine concern, the correct procedure would have been followed without putting anyone at additional risk. In today's security climate, every unattended item must be treated seriously, and I would rather be proven over-cautious than regret not acting.