South Western Railway (SWR) has warned of a rise in assaults and abuse against its staff. Hence the train operator is further using body-worn video cameras. SWR points to the number of reported incidents of violent and public order offences doubling between 2020-21 and 2024-25, according to British Transport Police (BTP). The firm says the upward trend is in line with similar increases in other public services and industries, such as in the NHS and retail. After an initial trial in 2021, SWR has introduced body-worn video cameras for colleagues in customer-facing roles, such as train guards and gate-line assistants at stations. The cameras are activated by the wearer and capture 30 seconds of footage before the activation. In September, following other train operators, SWR launched a campaign. Three posters depict incidents of abuse from the perspective of a colleague, captured on a body-worn video camera.
While it is hoped the posters will instil empathy for colleagues who face abuse, they also show the perpetrators facing police custody, trial and ultimately prison.
What they say
Jane Lupson, Safety and Security Director for SWR, said: “The rise in abuse directed against our colleagues, including daily assaults, is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Keeping people safe on our railway is always our number one priority, not least our colleagues who serve our customers with care every day.
“The introduction of body-worn video cameras will help deter anyone thinking of abusing a colleague and help prosecute those who do. We hope this striking new campaign will remind potential perpetrators of the consequences of abuse, for colleagues and for them.”
A study published last year by the University of Cambridge, commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group of train companies and BTP, suggested that body-worn video cameras can reduce the likelihood of assault against the wearer by 47 per cent. The researchers found support among frontline rail staff for fuller use of body-worn.
London letters
Meanwhile the rail union RMT welcomed a letter by London Assembly Transport Committee chair Elly Baker’s letter to Transport for London commissioner Andy Lord, describing fare evasion as unacceptable, and calling on TfL to do more to see that gatelines are staffed at all stations. On staff safety she wrote: “Although only a small number of people evading fares become violent or aggressive, TfL staff and passengers own safety can be at risk when a minority of those without a valid ticket become violent. And around half of all incidents of violence and aggression towards TfL staff stem from fare evasion or payment disputes.”
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “We need to end lone working, increase staffing across the network, stop the dangerous cuts to the British Transport Police, and put in place stronger legal protections for transport workers who face violence just for doing their jobs. Our recent survey shows that 60 per cent of rail staff who have been assaulted were working alone at the time. That is simply unacceptable.”
In a separate letter to BTP Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, Elly Baker raised concerns ‘about slow British Transport Police (BTP) response times to incidents of violence and aggression towards TfL staff’.
CEOs’ letter
A high level of public-facing workers report abuse, hostility and assault and a low level of incident reporting, suggesting a stronger deterrent is needed, according to an open letter published by the Institute of Customer Service in August, and signed by some 100 chiefs of utilities, retailers, building societies and other businesses. While welcoming the Labour Government’s first and flagship Crime and Policing Bill, the 100 asked for an amendment to the Bill so that assault on anyone in a public-facing role would be an aggravating offence, not only against those working in retail.
Retail
In retail, the chief exec of the trade body the Association of Convenience Stores, James Lowman, gave evidence to the Business and Trade Select Committee on the Government’s Small Business Strategy. He said: “Shop theft is not a new thing, but what we’ve seen change in recent years is the lack of any regard for consequences that thieves have. The cost of crime and the human impact of crime is the number one issue facing our members right now.”
Prisons
Deputy Prime Minister announced more use of protective body armour – also known as stab proof vests – for front-line prison officers, while on a visit HMP Belmarsh, a high-security prison in south London. A £15m spend will include up to 500 prison officers trained up to use Tasers, after a trial announced this summer for 20 specialist staff to use the non-lethal weapon.
David Lammy said: “I am determined to restore tough law and order, ensure prisons are fit for purpose, and make our streets safer, as part of the Plan for Change. Our dedicated prison officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect us. This new investment sends a clear message: we back our staff and we will give them the tools they need to do their jobs safely.”
Police
In his third annual assessment of policing in England and Wales, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Andy Cooke, published this month, noted that in the year ending March 2024, there were 44,976 offences of assault on police officers recorded in England and Wales; an increase of 11.1 per cent compared with the previous year.
Photo by Mark Rowe: Clapham Junction station.
