ENHANCING RAIL NETWORK SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR STAFF AND PASSENGERS

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular: NP/080/25

13^th May 2025

To: The Secretary

All branches and Regional Councils

 

Dear Colleague

 

ENHANCING RAIL NETWORK SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR STAFF AND PASSENGERS

 

I recently received the following resolution from your Brighton and Hove City branch: 

 

The rail network has seen a significant rise in anti-social behaviour, including assaults on both staff and passengers, ticketless travel, and overall safety concerns at stations, exacerbated by a lack of sufficient security personnel.

 

In 2023, over 4,000 assaults were recorded at railway stations across England, Scotland, and Wales, marking a four-year high. This troubling trend has continued in 2024 and into 2025, with figures expected to exceed the previous year's total.

 

Security staffing is inadequate, with Travel Safety Officers (TSOs) deployed only from 3pm Tuesday to Saturday and Rail Enforcement Officers (REOs) starting their shifts between 9am and 10am. There is minimal security presence on Sundays and Mondays, with Barnham being the only station with TSOs.

 

The tragic death of Brother Jorge Ortega in December 2024 was a direct result of inadequate security, highlighting a broader systemic failure of Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to uphold their duty of care to staff and customers. While the incident occurred outside the scope of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), it serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with insufficient security measures.

 

In the early months of 2025, 10 knife crime incidents were reported on the East and West Coast lines. Additionally, between April 3rd and 17th, four staff members were assaulted, alongside members of the public.

 

GTR reported a 23% increase in verbal assaults and a 10% rise in physical assaults on staff over the past year.

 

The British Transport Police (BTP) has acknowledged the increase in violence and anti-social behaviour. However, funding constraints may result in the closure of up to 17 BTP stations, which will further reduce their presence and support for staff and passengers, thereby undermining trust in the police.

 

Despite these challenges, The Department for Transport has deployed Transport Safety Officers in select areas, but these deployments catchment areas remain too narrow and fail to cover critical regions such as the East and West Coast outer areas and the Arun Valley.

 

This Branch Believes:

The safety and wellbeing of both passengers and rail staff must be the top priority for all rail operators. However, current security measures are insufficient, and GTR has failed at every level to adequately protect its staff and passengers.

 

The deployment of TSOs and REOs is insufficient and does not reflect the security needs for the South Coast and surrounding regions. On Sundays and Mondays, Barnham station has minimal security presence.

 

Anti-social behaviour, including assaults, intimidation, and ticketless travel, undermines public confidence in the rail network. On-board staff are often left to manage these incidents alone, without sufficient support from security personnel or law enforcement. Locations including Barnham, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing and adjoining station on the West Coast alongside stations like Newhaven Town, Seaford, Eastbourne, Hampden Park are all a hotbed of rapidly increasing problems.

 

Begging and especially aggression towards staff by rough sleepers and beggars on the mainline between Victoria and Gatwick has reach boiling point on a daily basis with nearly every single train being targeted by beggars. I have personally been on the receiving end of physical violence without the support of available security.

 

Well-trained and adequately resourced staff are crucial to maintaining security on the rail network. However, the current use of Ontrack Revenue Support Officers in Brighton, who lack ticketing knowledge, route understanding, and the authority to remove fare evaders, is an ineffective use of resources and finances. These funds could be better allocated towards increasing the number of fully licensed TSOs and trained REOs with the appropriate powers of enforcement.

 

A visible and effective security presence across the rail network, supported by well-trained personnel, is essential to ensure both staff and passengers feel safe. This can only work when this presence is 7 days a week during all operating hours.

 

This Branch Resolves:

1.        To call upon the Department for Transport to secure adequate funding for the British Transport Police, ensuring their ability to maintain and enhance a visible and effective presence at all stations and on trains, especially during peak times and at vulnerable locations.

2.        Demands rail operators to immediately implement comprehensive measures to combat anti-social behaviour, including:

- Deploying immediate additional security personnel and Transport Safety Officers at all stations, seven days a week, to cover ALL operating hours.

- Installing and maintaining a state-of-the-art CCTV system in both stations and on trains, ensuring it is fit for purpose in 2025.

- Enhancing ticket inspection processes to deter fare evasion and associated anti-social behaviour. This should include fully trained station/platform/gateline staff supported by TSOs and REOs with the power to remove anyone attempting to breach the gateline without a valid ticket or attempts to travel without a valid ticket.

- Immediately ban on persistent known offenders from all stations and services.

3.        To advocate for stronger legal protections for rail staff and passengers against all forms of abuse, assault, and anti-social behaviour. The law should support initiatives to create a safe and respectful travel environment, and prosecute all offenders, with repeat offenders being banned from all stations and trains, regardless of age, sex, or nationality.

 

This Branch Further Resolves:

1.         To support the establishment of a national task force comprising representatives from the Department for Transport, British Transport Police, rail operators, and trade unions, to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour on the rail network.

2.         To encourage local communities to engage with rail operators and law enforcement, fostering collaboration to report incidents and improve safety on trains and at stations, ensuring that the public plays a role in creating a safer travel environment.”

 

            In relation to this at its meeting on 8^th May 2025, your NEC noted and adopted the following report from its health and safety subcommittee:

 

We note the resolution from our Brighton and Hove City branch, for which it is thanked. 

 

We further note that the salient points in the resolution are already being actioned. The General Secretary is instructed to link this item to the Violence at Work file.

 

            I am acting in line with these instructions. Please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary