Northern Ireland

Security fears for Translink after rise in assaults and anti-social behaviour

There were a total of 158 incidents of physical or verbal assaults and anti-social or inappropriate behaviour reported in the last 12 months
There were a total of 158 incidents of physical or verbal assaults and anti-social or inappropriate behaviour reported in the last 12 months There were a total of 158 incidents of physical or verbal assaults and anti-social or inappropriate behaviour reported in the last 12 months

ASSAULTS and anti-social behaviour on rail services are on this rise.

In the last year, NI Railways recorded a total of 158 physical or verbal assaults, reports of anti-social behaviour and ‘inappropriate behaviour’ – a 36 per cent jump over the last two years.

Anti-social behaviour is by far the most common type of problem reported by staff, with 79 incidents in the last 12 months.

And the number of security staff has decreased.

A total of 20 security staff are employed at six railway stations, compared with 22 staff over seven locations in the previous two years.

A further 16 stations in the north have no daily security staff.

Translink also used around 230 event security guards on trains during 2016 - an increase from 211 in 2015 and 225 in 2014.

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said the figures "highlight the inadequate level of security staff on our trains and at railway stations".

"This lack of manpower and gap in provision gives perpetrators the misguided belief that they can act inappropriately, or recklessly, and get away with it," he said.

"Northern Ireland Railways therefore needs to take urgent action on this issue and review security staff provision.

"Staff deserve to be able to go about their jobs without threat of assault or abuse. Equally, passengers deserve to travel without interruption or inconvenience.

"Translink and the PSNI need to go back to the drawing board to produce a coherent strategy to deal with such attacks and abuse."

Meanwhile, bus service staff have also reported similar figures with 158 incidents this year, compared with 133 in 2014-2015.

The number of physical assaults against staff and passengers alone has nearly doubled in the last twelve months from 25 to 45.

Three bus services are out of operation due to repeated attacks. One service in west Belfast has been indefinitely suspended after a petrol bomb was thrown at a bus in July.

A Translink spokesman said its primary concern is the safety of passengers and staff.

"We have a zero tolerance approach to unacceptable or anti-social behaviour on any of our vehicles or property and will pursue those engaged in such behaviour with a view to securing a prosecution," he said.

"If bus or train crew or station staff witness an incident of anti-social behaviour, it is reported.

"Translink also continues to operate a reward scheme, which offers up to £1,000 reward to anyone who gives evidence leading to a successful prosecution."

Translink employs 3,790 staff and has a fleet of 1,298 buses, along with ten railway routes carrying 38 trains.