Campaign targets transport violence

12 April 2012

A leading trade union has launched a campaign aimed at tackling a "tidal wave" of violence against transport workers after new research showed that many incidents were going unreported.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union called for increased staffing levels, an end to lone working and better legal protection for rail, bus and ferry workers following a huge increase in assaults.

The union conducted its own study which it said revealed that official figures only represented the "tip of the iceberg", with as many as one in three incidents going unreported.

There were 4,865 assaults against rail workers last year - 13 a day - representing a 50% increase on the 2002 figure, said the union.

The RMT said its own data suggested that most front-line transport workers could expect to be assaulted, threatened or abused in the line of their duty.

The campaign included a charter setting out a zero-tolerance approach among all transport firms as well as encouragement to report every incident.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said: "The level of violence our members face at work is already unacceptable, yet year on year the problem gets worse, and it is time to put staff safety ahead of profits.

"No one should have to regard the fear of assault as part of the job, no one should have to worry about reporting assaults for fear that they might be seen as the problem, and no one assaulted at work should have to wonder when, let alone if, the police might arrive. Staff who are attacked should be able to expect the best possible care and support, but all too often the employer's response falls woefully short.

"It is cost-cutting by private operators across the transport that has reduced staffing to the bone and has made transport workers more vulnerable. It is high time to reverse that trend and start putting guards and conductors back on trains and buses, and ensure that all stations and terminals are adequately staffed all the time they are open.

"We need the Transport Police to have enough resources to respond in time, every time, but we also need the best possible legal protection that sends out the signal that transport workers are not there to be attacked."

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