Shocking video reveals daily violence suffered by rail workers who are spat at, punched and battered – with more than 4,000 attacks recorded last year

Violence against rail workers has reached a four-year high with staff alleging they are spat at, punched and attacked every day, it has emerged.

Body camera footage shows how furious travellers have physically assaulted rail enforcement officers during foul-mouthed tirades at stations and on platforms.

Officers have been forced to detain passengers after being ‘touched’ and attacked.

There were more than 4,000 attacks against rail workers at stations across England, Scotland and Wales recorded by police in 2023, a Freedom of Information request by BBC has revealed.

Police recorded nearly 10 per cent more assaults last year than before the pandemic in 2019, despite there being an 11 per cent reduction in rail passengers.

Southeastern reported 438 violent incidents last year, which was the highest number of all train providers, according to BBC.

The rail provider has reportedly partnered with Network Rail and the British Transport Police (BTP) in a bid to prevent trespassing, antisocial behaviour and assaults against staff.

Workers can now report incidents of violence and aggression on a designated app. Footage recorded on body worn cameras has also led to numerous convictions, police revealed.

Southeastern said the number of recorded assaults may have risen due to better reporting by staff.

Rail enforcement officer (REO) Adam Huntley, who has worked with Southeastern for almost eight years, told the broadcaster that violence against staff has ‘completely ramped up’ and that travellers ‘believe that we have no powers to do anything’.

‘I’ve been sworn at, spat at, I’ve been punched, at multiple stations from Rainham to Gravesend,’ he said.

His colleague Caroline Lamb, who has worked on the railway for 28 years, added that she believes the increase in violence is correlated with the fact that penalty fares for those without a ticket have risen from £20 to £100.

REOs have the authority to detain or remove travellers who violate railway rules. This includes, but is not limited to, being drunk or failing to produce a ticket.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesperson told the broadcaster that it takes attacks against rail staff ‘extremely seriously’ and that violence would ‘not be tolerated under any circumstance’.

Det Supt Brett Walker said: ‘We continue to work closely with rail companies to tackle offences and we will explore all investigative avenues to identify and prosecute offenders.’

MailOnline has approached BTP and Southeastern Rail for comment.