Recent figure that show an increase in verbal and physical assaults in railway stations has Network Rail's Southern region to launch a new campaign that reminds passengers that ‘Behind Every Uniform is Someone Just Like You'.
The latest figure show that 90% of people working in the region's largest stations have suffered verbal abuse of a racist, sexist, or homophobic nature, or physical assaults.
Almost every member of staff surveyed reported that they had been the victim of verbal abuse, with half of the abuse victims having to call the police and half saying the abuse had affected their work and home life. Figures for particular types of abuse include:
- 4/10 suffered racial abuse.
- 3/10 were physically assaulted.
- 1/10 suffered abuse of a sexual nature, including groping and lewd comments.
As well as Network Rail's new campaign to remind passengers that “Behind Every Uniform is Someone Just Like You”, staff are being provided with body-worn cameras as an extra level of protection.
If anyone witnesses abuse on railway staff or members of the public in a station, they are requested to report it to the British Transport Police by phoning 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016 for non-emergency enquiries. Alternatively, the abuse can be reported anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sam Chessex, Network Rail's director of stations, said: “We know most of our passengers wouldn't dream of behaving like this, but the statistics don't lie.
“This campaign reminds people that behind the uniforms there are real people, with real lives, who deserve to be treated with respect.
“If you can't treat our people with respect, we will be pursuing prosecutions.”
Ryodon Goddard, Network Rail station manager at London Charing Cross and London Cannon Street, said: “As station staff, our priorities are to keep passengers moving safely. We appreciate that delays can sometimes be extremely frustrating and we want to use this campaign to remind passengers to treat station staff with respect because they're just trying to do their job and be helpful.”
WATCH: Ryodon Goddard and Haffif Asunramu talking about their experiences.
Haffif Asunramu, a former customer service assistant at London Bridge, who now works as a revenue protection officer at the station, recalled being spat at during the height of the Covid lockdown in May 2021.
“People were still very nervous about travelling and there was a man hanging around outside the toilets, spitting on the floor,” Hafif said. “I had to challenge him and ask him to leave, and he told me to go back to my own country and racially abused me.
“He continued to racially abuse me. It was almost as if he was just saying anything that might provoke a reaction. You almost have to numb yourself to the racism, but then you don't come to work to be abused like this.”
Another colleague, Mike Ezra, a customer service assistant, had to take time off after being threatened on a night shift.
“He started running towards me shouting and screaming and had his hand in a bag. I was frightened – I didn't know what was in the bag. I thought he was going to stab me or something, so I ran,” Mike recalled.
“The police eventually caught up with him and detained him. But I had to take time off work because I was genuinely scared for my life. I didn't know if he was going to come back. I felt like I needed to get used to being around people again.”
