Rail assaults fear when ticket checks stepped up
S cot Rail staff will beat increased risk of being assaulted by fare dodgers a sticket checks are increased after being scaled down during lockdown, police fear.
British Transport Police’ s (BTP) Scotland commander is also worried about “pockets of resistance” among staff to wearing video cameras, which he said had proved to deter attacks.
Ticket checks on trains have been suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic as a precautionary measure.
However, BTP said this had led some passengers to regard travelling by train as free.
Chief Superintendent Eddie Wylie told the Scottish Railways Policing Committee :“An area we are really conscious of is assaults on staff.
“It’ s incredibly low at the moment, but that in the main is because there are no points of conflict because most of the rail industry across the country are not engaging, so they are not constantly checking for tickets and getting into those areas of conflict with the public.
“My own personal concern is we are probably seeing a new culture develop and it’s going to knock us back quite a few years, where people who are on the fringes of criminality that now see the net work as being free.
“S o when they are star ting to be challenged, that will be a potential issue for us which we will need to keep a close eye on, because we could then see rail staff being at the front of any abuse or assaults. We need to be alive to that.”
However, Chf Supt Wylie said some staff were reluctant to use body-worn video cameras (BWV), which has been shown to deter would-be assailants.
ABTP report to the committee stated :“Officers still find there is a reluctance amongst some staff members to use BWV, with only a small proportion of staffchoosing to wear it and activate if required.”
Mr Wylie said: “Where we could definitely make an improvement is around bodyworn video by staff.
“We have been trying really hard with body-worn video for a long time, especially within Scotrail.
”There is some pockets of resistance, but it is for everyone’s benefit.
“Various studies have shown that.
”The bottom line is we don’t want anyone assaulted, and reaction from the public when they see body-worn video generally pacifies the matter.”
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union( R MT ), which represents most Scotrail conductors and ticket examiners, said it backed use of the cameras but staff could not be forced to use them.
Scottish organiser Mick Hogg said: “RMT encourage our members to wear and use cameras for their protection as we see an increase in antisocial behaviour throughout the network
“They do not form part of our members’ kit, therefore any usage is voluntary.”
AS cot Rail spokesperson said: “Customers travelling on our services are required to hold a valid ticket, and even during the pandemic they are required to present a ticket at ticket barriers at all of our main stations.
“The safety of our customers and employees is our number one priority and initiatives such as body-worn cameras are having a positive impact.”