Rail staff needed to tackle worry of anti-social thugs

Passengers worried about their safety want abusive and rowdy passengers stopped from catching the train and more visible police and staff readily available for help.

The majority of passengers are generally satisfied with their personal security at the station (64%) and on the train (73%), but of those passengers not satisfied, the anti-social behaviour of others was their primary worry.

Passenger Focus has asked passengers what they are most annoyed by when it comes to anti-social behaviour at the station and on the train. Those who play loud music, don’t pay for their train ticket or vandalise the railway were judged as being the most irritating passengers.

When it comes to being concerned about their safety, passengers are most worried about abusive or threatening behaviour (60.5%).

Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said: “Passengers generally feel safe on the railway but having staff available definitely makes a difference – 40% of passengers called for more staff on the train and 36% said they wanted more visible police on board.”

The research found that the most common form of anti-social behaviours witnessed at the station were passengers playing loud music (24.3%); feet on seats (21.4%) or passengers being drunk or on drugs (17.3%). On the train, passengers reported that the most common form of anti-social behaviour observed were feet on seats (36.8%), loud music (30.6%) and use of phones in quiet carriages (27.9%).

Mr Smith said: “While passengers feel safer when they’re on board, conductors, guards and police may also help cut out those annoying behaviours like loud music, phone conversations in quiet carriages and feet on seats.”

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “British Transport Police is committed to challenging anti-social behaviour right across the rail network to ensure that people not only are safe, but feel safe.

“This research by Passenger Focus is timely and highlights the issues that matter to the public and rail staff. We will use this research to directly inform our policing operations over the coming year. Increased visibility of officers is the most effective way to ensure passengers and staff feel safe. We have already undertaken a number of activities to ensure that is happening – we have more officers out at night, when passengers and staff need them more, officers patrol on their own rather than in pairs and our dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be meeting with passengers and rail staff and targeting our policing operations to address their concerns.”

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