Southeastern trains - Assault at Beckenham Station

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular NP/002/25

9th January 2025

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague

 

SOUTHEASTERN TRAINS – ASSAULT AT BECKENHAM JUNCTION

 

Your Orpington branch submitted the following resolution:

 

On 1st January 2025, a passenger at Beckenham Junction station asked Bro. Roopesh Sookun, platform staff for Southeastern Trains and a member of this union for more than 10 years, to help him charge his phone. As a courteous and dedicated professional, Bro. Sookun permitted this person to make use of facilities at the station. The next day, the same passenger returned and accused Bro. Sookun of having caused his phone to become defective. He then violently assaulted Bro. Sookun, who was working at the station alone at the time, necessitating a visit to hospital for treatment to injuries sustained to his face.

 

In response to Bro. Sookun’s report of assault, the British Transport Police informed him they would not be taking action against the alleged perpetrator since there was no CCTV footage of the incident and “it would be his word against yours”. This appalling attitude only emboldens those who would harm our members, and this branch condemns such indifference from those charged with protecting us.

 

Only last month, the potentially fatal consequences of assaults on transport staff were made troublingly clear after the tragic passing of Bro. Jorge Ortega, who was attacked at work two days before his death. While the union’s guidance for members to protect themselves at work issued subsequently is welcome, it would not have helped in this case since Bro. Sookun was assaulted as soon as the perpetrator alleged his phone had been damaged.

 

Our members should not and must not be made to feel as though their personal safety and physical wellbeing are put at risk simply by being at work. Neither should such abuse lead to a diminished service for passengers on our railway – where staff are so intimidated by instances of violence at work that they feel unable to engage with the public for fear of being harmed.

 

This branch calls on the National Executive Committee to instruct the Lead Officer for Southeastern Trains to:

 

-     raise the matter of Bro. Sookun’s assault with company representatives as a matter of urgency

-     demand an immediate end to the company’s practice of lone working at stations

-     emphasise the need for management at SE Trains to take proactive steps to ensure the safety of our members while both at work and going to/from work

-     insist that the company no longer permit the alleged perpetrator of this assault to access any station or train operated by SE Trains under the provisions of Britain’s Railway Byelaws; and

-     submit a report to the NEC outlining the extent of the company’s compliance with the above as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

This branch further calls on the NEC to instruct the General Secretary to write to the British Transport Police to convey the union’s dismay at their response to the assault of Bro. Sookun and request that his case be re-examined.

 

At its meeting on 12th December 2024 your NEC resolved as follows:

 

That we note the resolution on file from Orpington Branch and thank them for it. 

 

This National Executive Committee is deeply concerned to learn of what has happened to Bro. Sookun. The rise of violent assaults towards railway staff needs to be taken seriously, we welcome the branches recommendations. 

 

Therefore, we instruct the General Secretary to: 

 

  • Raise the matter of Bro. Sookun's assault with the lead officer and company representatives as a matter of urgency

 

  • Write to SE Trains and demand an immediate end to the company's practice of lone working at stations and emphasise the need for management at SE Trains to take proactive steps to ensure the safety of our members while both at work and going to/from work and insist that the company no longer permit the alleged perpetrator of this assault to access any station or train operated by SE Trains under the provisions of Britain's Railway Byelaws

 

  • Write to the British Transport Police to convey the union's dismay at their response to the assault of Bro. Sookun and request that his case be re-examined and

 

  • Request an updated report from the lead officer in relation to the above. 

 

Branches, Regional Councils, and Members are to be informed

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. 

            

Please bring this circular to the attention of relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary