RMT calls for action over "escalation" in violence on Govia Thameslink Railway services

The largest railway union is calling for action to tackle claims of increasing violence on some of the country’s busiest train routes.

The RMT said that has been a “serious escalation” in violent and antisocial behaviour across Southern and Gatwick Express services, which are part of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).

The union claimed that staff face “daily incidents of assault, threats, spitting, verbal abuse and intimidation".

It is demanding additional staff and security personal at key locations, and visible enforcement to deter violent behaviour.

In a robust response, GTR’s safety, health and security director, Sam Facey, said: “Physical or verbal abuse of any kind against our colleagues is absolutely unacceptable.

“Last year we launched a £2.5 million antisocial behaviour improvement plan, created following feedback from stakeholders and police, and some of our staff and trade union representatives. This includes making more than 1,500 body-worn cameras available, which studies show reduce assaults by 47%.

“We have also doubled the number of high-visibility Travel Safe Officers to work with British Transport Police and our teams of Rail Enforcement Officers at stations and on board trains.”

Facey said this problem was part of a wider societal issue.

“This is bigger than the railway,” he warned.

“It is a wider, regional problem of youth violence affecting communities, particularly those on the south coast, which is why the close collaboration of the police, councils, and other agencies continues to be so important in tackling this kind of behaviour.”