Shocking toll of attacks on transport workers

Jan 2 2008 by Matthew Aplin, South Wales Echo

PUBLIC transport workers face being assaulted, spat at and even have bricks thrown at them as they provide bus and rail services in South Wales.

Transport staff have had to take almost 1,000 days off work over the past three years as they recovered from injury and illness caused by the attacks.

Cardiff Bus recorded 57 physical attacks in the past three years. During that time drivers have received cuts, bruises, black eyes, and suffered stress-related injuries since November, 2004.

They were also spat at 59 times and suffered verbal abuse on 64 reported occasions.

Figures supplied to the Echo by Cardiff Bus revealed 587 days were lost as a result of workers taking time off because of the attacks, with one worker having to take 55 days off. Another driver was moved to a different part of the business following an attack.

The figures come in the wake of a number of high profile attacks on public transport workers in 2007.

In April, Arriva Trains Wales Guard Mike Shepherd told the Echo he was terrified after a train in Ystrad Rhondda was held hostage by a gang of yobs.

The 49-year-old said the scene he was greeted with as the train pulled up at the station was like a riot.

He said, up to 60 teenagers, many of them drunk, were there waiting to cause trouble. A group of them started a fight with a couple who were waiting to board, which security men had to break up. Then they turned their attention to the train and its staff.

He said: “One of the boys must have stolen a fire extinguisher off the train and he set it off in my face. I was soaking wet.

“Then another boy threw a bottle from the bridge, aimed at me.

“At this point I was shaking like a leaf because if it had hit me, I think it could have killed me.”

He added: “They were going beserk, taunting us, saying, ‘we know you can’t leave – we know what to do’. Even when I told them that we had called the police, they said they didn’t care. They were nasty and wanted a fight.”

Cardiff Bus driver, Robert Brown, 52, has also been a victim of antisocial behaviour. He was spat on after asking a passenger to get off the bus because he had barged to the front of the queue.

He said: “I was driving the number 50 bus into town and there were quite a lot of people at the bus stop.

“This man barged to the front to get on. He was swearing at passengers so I told him to get off. He turned around and he spat in my mouth. I was absolutely fuming.

“I immediately reported it to the radio room and I took a swab of the saliva with a swab kit.”

All Cardiff Bus drivers are issued with DNA swab kits, which contain swabs, evidence bags and gloves for the collection of a saliva sample for analysis.

Paul Anthony Wilson, 20, of Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff, was jailed in August for the attack.

Mr Brown added: “I just feel that it’s becoming a hazard of the job. We are here to provide a service to the public but do not need this. It has a detrimental effect on passengers too as it is not only frightening for them but delays services.

“We want people to feel safe on our services and there are facilities available so we can identify people who offend.”

Veolia Transport Cymru has had to suspend some of its evening services in South Wales because of antisocial behaviour.

A total of 10 of its workers suffered attacks with four of those deciding to leave the company.

One driver had to take two weeks off work as a result of an attack.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “Veolia Transport, has a duty of care to its passengers and employees – their safety being our utmost priority. Owing to the seriousness of these incidents we have regretfully had to withdraw some services.

“The antisocial behaviour experienced by our drivers has also included rocks being thrown through vehicle windows while in service, causing a danger to all travelling on board.

“We are currently in discussion with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council for a resolution to this problem. CCTV and protective screens on the driver’s cab are some of the items being proposed.”

Figures on attacks on train drivers and conductors are as high as the bus attack figures.

Over the past three years, Arriva Train Wales conductors were victims of 104 physical attacks and 102 verbal attacks.

There have also been 13 physical attacks and six verbal attacks on drivers, with 400 days being lost as a result of employees taking time off to recover from their injuries and stress.

A spokeswoman for Arriva Trains Wales said: “This is something we take very seriously. We are working closely with all relevant parties including the British Transport Police, the community police and community leaders to protect our workers.”

Bus company Stagecoach declined to give any figures on transport worker attacks.

John Gould, Managing Director of Stagecoach in South Wales, said: “The safety of our passengers and our drivers is extremely important to us. This year alone, we have invested in more than 60 buses with CCTV cameras to help provide a safe environment for everyone travelling on Stagecoach buses across South Wales.”

matthew.aplin@mediawales.co.uk