Train staff to get body cameras in abuse crackdown

A rail operating company plans to issue body-worn cameras to staff as part of a £2.5m crackdown on antisocial behaviour on the network.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) says the extra resources to tackle the problem will include targeted presence at stations and on trains as well as a roll out of over 1,500 body-worn cameras.

The move is in response to a 23% increase in verbal assaults on staff and almost a 10% increase in physical assaults across the rail operator’s network over the past year.

Samantha Facey, the health, safety and security director at GTR, said: “Everyone travelling with us deserves to get home safely, and our colleagues deserve to be treated with respect; physical or verbal abuse of any kind will not be tolerated.”

GTR operates services on Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick Express and Great Northern services in Kent, West and East Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Greater London, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Norfolk.

It said feedback was captured following numerous workshops and consulting other stakeholders including local schools, police forces and trade unions.

The company's response also includes developing an education plans for schools, improving training and aftercare so staff feel supported, hiring more staff in safety division and working closer with policing and prosecutions teams to remove offenders from the railway.

Ms Facey said: “The rise in antisocial behaviour is being felt across industries and communities nationwide.

"Whilst we cannot solve the problem on our own, we hope that with increased tools and resources we can begin to turn the dial on this kind of behaviour."

Railway Enforcement Officer Steven Byrne said: "No one likes to come into work and be abused.

"Its part of our job to address anti-social behaviour and low level crime on the railway. It doesn't make it right but we are also here to provide reassurance for customers and staff.

"It ranges from feet on seats to shouting abuse at customers and staff.

"A new one we are dealing with a lot now is vaping.

"Antisocial behaviour is definitely on the increase - we could be dealing with anything. I've been in this role for four years and I've been assaulted at work but my body worn camera footage ended up convicted the person who assaulted me."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.