A man has been sent to prison after a Transport for London (TfL) ticket checker was pushed and repeatedly kicked at a Tube station. Officials say a passenger lashed out at Paddington station after they were challenged over ‘a revenue issue’.
The person initially pleaded not guilty in court, but changed his stance at trial. TfL bosses suggest that body-worn camera footage may have led to this.
The incident was outlined in committee documents for the next meeting of TfL’s board on June 12. They read: “On May 15, 2023, a revenue protection officer was pushed and repeatedly kicked after challenging a man over a revenue issue. British Transport Police (BTP) officers arrested the man at the scene and he was charged with common assault.
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“After an initial plea of not guilty, at trial the suspect changed his plea to guilty. Video evidence captured by body-worn cameras is likely to have contributed to the change in plea. On February 28, 2024 the man was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment.”
Papers also outlined other incidents, including staff being racially abused at Stratford Underground station and spat at at Seven Sisters station. The committee document added: “On August 1, 2023, station colleagues were racially abused by an intoxicated man. The BTP arrested the man for being drunk and disorderly, racially aggravated common assault and for assaulting a police officer.
“On February 16, 2024, the suspect pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced to nine weeks’ imprisonment.”
Staff ‘spat at’
Officials also reported: “On November 18, 2023, a man was found sleeping on a bench within the station. When asked to leave by a station colleague he spat at them.
“A spit kit was used to gather DNA evidence which identified the man and his details were circulated to police forces nationally. He was subsequently arrested and charged with common assault.
“A guilty plea was entered and on February 5, 2024 and the man was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £300 compensation to the victim.”
TfL ‘committed to protecting staff’
TfL says it is ‘committed to doing all we can to protect our colleagues and keep them safe in the workplace’. A report to the authority’s board stated: “We have made significant progress against our strategy to eradicate work-related violence and aggression. In February, we introduced new guidance specifically intended to support our capital colleagues in managing the risks from violence and aggression.
“Based around four sections on Readiness, Planning, Additional Mitigation, and Personal Actions and Responses, it provides a range of options to enable people leaders to consult with their teams to decide on the most suitable or effective approach depending upon the specific circumstances. Where acts of work-related violence and aggression are committed towards our colleagues, we will provide support to those colleagues and seek to ensure the courts impose the most severe penalties on offenders.
“This is seen in the following cases. In March, we launched our new programme of conflict management training for colleagues working in higher-risk locations across our public transport network. This training will provide essential knowledge and skills, covering positive interactions to reduce the risks of violence and aggression, dynamic risk assessments and de-escalation skills. The 2024 programme will reach 2,000 colleagues, while we work on a long-term approach for 2025 onwards.”
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