2 September 2025
RMT Press Office:
Rail union, RMT today welcomed the London Assembly Transport Committee’s letter to Transport for London on fare evasion and staff safety, and backed calls for urgent action to tackle the rising levels of violence against frontline transport workers.
The union said the committee is right to link fare evasion with staff assaults and highlight the urgent need for more frontline staff, properly resourced enforcement, and serious consequences for those who attack transport workers at work.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Tackling fare evasion is the biggest trigger for staff assaults, and we welcome the London Assembly Transport Committee’s call for more frontline resources and real consequences for those who attack our members at work.
"We need to end lone working, increase staffing across the network, stop the dangerous cuts to the British Transport Police, and put in place stronger legal protections for transport workers who face violence just for doing their jobs.
"Our recent survey shows that 60% of rail staff who have been assaulted were working alone at the time. That is simply unacceptable.”
RMT is demanding an end to lone working on the rail and tube network and increased staffing at stations to ensure safety for workers and passengers.
The union wants a reversal of planned cuts to the British Transport Police, which is facing an £8.5 million budget shortfall, risking:
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Closure of 13 police stations
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Loss of around 600 posts, including 200 filled roles
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Stronger legal protections for transport staff, including an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to create a standalone offence of assaulting a public transport worker
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Tagged with: RMT, Eddie Dempsey, London Assembly Transport Committee, Action Against Assaults
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