SLOWLY he raises his body into a handstand, as he perches on the edge of a crane 220ft above the streets of Southampton.

Danny Morgan’s stunt at the WestQuay Watermark this week isn’t the first daredevil climb in Southampton and as such feats become more and more common, what can – or should – be done to stop these antics?

Gaining entrance to a location – trespass – is not a criminal offence and the person doing it cannot be arrested as the police will not respond.

However, police may attend if another offence may be committed and if anything is damaged then a trespasser can be charged with criminal damage.

The land owner can make a civil claim without proving any damage has occurred – but they have to go through the civil courts to do so. If the landowner doesn’t take any action, then nothing will happen to the trespasser.

Another Southampton daredevil, James Kingston, who has climbed cranes at Ocean Village, Guildhall Square in the city, as well as Dubai’s highest residential building, was arrested in Paris after scaling the Eiffel Tower without any safety equipment – other than the obligatory GoPro camera, designed for extreme sports so people can upload their clips to the Internet.

Both MP Royston Smith and the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes, described the duo’s actions as ‘irresponsible’ and Cllr Dave Shields called them ‘selfish’ but the two men at the centre of the stunt have attempted to explain their actions.

Speaking about this week’s incident involving Danny Morgan and Simon Russell, Southampton’s head of heath, Cllr Dave Shields, said: “I think it was really selfish what they did. I’m particularly upset about it as when the initial West Quay development took place a friend of mine died on site due to health and safety issues. It touches a nerve with me.

“If they were permanently injured who would look after them? They are putting their own fame before thinking about those around them.”

On the subject of taking action against daredevils, he said: “There is already sufficient legislation in place it just needs to be enforced properly.

“You can only go so far to stop it, as part of the thrill is overcoming the barriers that are there. The company need to make sure their security systems are properly in place.”

The risks of such stunts was spelt out by David Gallagher from South Central Ambulance Service. He said: “We had a case with a patient who fell 18ft. He broke both legs and had a serious back injury; but falling from 220ft is ‘curtains’ really. I would strongly advise against the climbing of any cranes.”

"They know who did it. A fine might not stop them but the law is what it is.”

Whilst Hampshire Constabulary said they would not comment on civil matters, Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Hayes, said: “I think it is irresponsible and risks both the person’s life and emergency services could be at risk dealing with it.

Regarding changing the law, he said: “Whether it is a case of trespass or illegal entry I’m not aware that there isn’t sufficient legislation to deal with it. We don’t have a spate of these.

“If there is a need for new laws then it is up to Parliament, and the police and Crown Prosecution Service to give advice if something is needed.

“I feel there is no need to change the law but it should be open to consideration.”

As for why people take such huge risks, Dr Nick Maguire, deputy head of psychology, Southampton University, said: “There is evidence that there are genetic predispositions to certain behaviour. This may mean they are much more likely to engage in thrill-seeking activity.

“The people who do this don’t think of the consequences. The cause may be ego or genetics. What maintains this behaviour is that nothing has so far gone wrong.

“They can’t have known they were safe. As they won’t be thinking of the failure of doing it, they won’t be thinking of the risk to themselves, others or emergency services.

As for publicising their actions online, he said: “That is all about ego. It is Andy Warhol’s ’15 minutes of fame’. People who watch those videos may comment approvingly. Then these two will pay attention to the comments lauding them and revel in that fame.”

One of the daredevils, Danny Morgan, defended his actions. The 23-year-old engineering apprentice from Freemantle, said: “We did it because it’s there and it’s new. It’s what we are supposed to do as humans. Tribesmen climb up trees every day. We’re supposed to be up trees.

“We call ourselves ‘urban explorers’, some are more into freerunning, climbing, even break dancing. We mix it all up and explore urban spaces.”

He has done his ‘exploring’ all over the UK and around the world. This year he was climbing scaffolding and unfinished buildings in Morocco. In Portsmouth he climbed an empty lift shaft at a derelict site.

“I have no regrets about it. I’ve not got a criminal record. We don’t cause any damage.”

But what of the danger of people copying his activities and getting hurt?

He said: “If anything were to happen with people copying us then it is up to each person’s responsibility. You are solely responsible for your actions. We can’t be responsible for everything. That’s not fair.”

“I play rugby and nobody says you idiot. Rugby is more dangerous than what I do.

“My mum hates me doing it, she can’t stand it. She thinks I’m crazy. She says I’m stupid and silly.

“But when I’m up there I’m not shaking and sweating. I’m calm, massively peaceful. Euphoric may be the best word. The fall doesn’t even cross my mind.”

Some describe what Danny and Simon do as ‘freerunning’ however Parkour UK, the governing body of freerunning in the UK disagrees.

Eugene Minogue, chief executive of Parkour UK, dismisses the stunt: “In very simple terms, climbing cranes, is not related to parkour. It is not related to that activity in any shape or form.”

Mr Minogue calls this activity ‘urban free climbing’. “It is a separate activity, it is nothing to do with us. We are very clear that it is not parkour." If people are doing anything illegal then I would absolutely condemn it. “

• By James Wild