Several Network Rail stations in London have launched a new campaign reminding passengers that ‘Behind Every Uniform is Someone Just Like You’ after new data revealed an increase in verbal and physical assaults across stations in the capital.
New statistics show that nine out of 10 people working in the region’s big London stations have suffered abuse, including verbal abuse of a racist, sexist, and homophobic nature, as well as physical assaults.
- Almost every member of staff surveyed reported being the victim of verbal abuse.
- Four in 10 have been victims of racial abuse.
- Three in 10 have been physically assaulted.
- One in 10 has suffered abuse of a sexual nature, including groping and lewd comments.
Network Rail’s managed stations in London, which include Clapham Junction, London Charing Cross, London Victoria, London Bridge, London Waterloo, London Cannon Street, London St Pancras International and Guildford (West Surrey), are running a campaign to remind passengers that “Behind Every Uniform is Someone Just Like You”, while body-worn cameras are also being rolled out as an extra layer of protection.
Sam Chessex, Network Rail’s director of stations, said: “We know most of our passengers wouldn’t dream of behaving like this, but the statistics don’t lie.
“This campaign reminds people that behind the uniforms there are real people, with real lives, who deserve to be treated with respect.
“If you can’t treat our people with respect, we will be pursuing prosecutions.”
Ryodon Goddard, Network Rail station manager at London Charing Cross and London Cannon Street, said: “As station staff, our priorities are to keep passengers moving safely. We appreciate that delays can sometimes be extremely frustrating, and we want to use this campaign to remind passengers to treat station staff with respect because they’re just trying to do their job and be helpful.”
Haffif Asunramu, a former customer service assistant at London Bridge, who now works as a revenue protection officer at the station, recalled being spat at during the height of the Covid lockdown in May 2021.
“People were still very nervous about travelling and there was a man hanging around outside the toilets, spitting on the floor,” Haffif said. “I had to challenge him and ask him to leave, and he told me to go back to my own country and racially abused me.
“He continued to racially abuse me. It was almost as if he was just saying anything that might provoke a reaction. You almost have to numb yourself to the racism, but then you don’t come to work to be abused like this.”
Another colleague, Mike Ezra, a customer service assistant, had to take time off after being threatened on a night shift.
“He started running towards me shouting and screaming and had his hand in a bag. I was frightened – I didn’t know what was in the bag. I thought he was going to stab me or something, so I ran,” Mike recalled.
“The police eventually caught up with him and detained him. But I had to take time off work because I was genuinely scared for my life. I didn’t know if he was going to come back. I felt like I needed to get used to being around people again.”
If you witness abuse at a station, whether of railway staff or members of the public, please report it to the British Transport Police by phoning 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016 for non-emergency enquiries.
If you want to report abuse, anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
