COLLEAGUE SAFETY IN THE PICTURE
There’s a new tool to support colleagues facing anti-social and violent behaviour
It’s a fact of life that some railway users are not good customers. Whether through intent or frustration, a minority can be aggressive, abusive and even violent towards our hardworking colleagues.
And, while the numbers may be small, cases of abuse and anti-social behaviour towards colleagues have escalated in recent years – particularly since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Of course, no one should face abuse or intimidation at work. This is why ARL is constantly looking for ways to support colleagues, diffuse potential flashpoints, and pursue prosecutions for those who break the law.
One of the latest of these measures is the introduction of body-worn cameras. Already a familiar sight on the uniforms of police officers and other transport workers, the cameras provide both a deterrent to would be assailants and a vital source of evidence of abuse or violence.
Effective deterrent
A study by the University of Cambridge with rail companies and the British Transport Police has shown that body-worn cameras can be an effective deterrent, helping reduce assault rates by nearly 50 per cent (see below). Because of the quality of the footage, they also increase the chances of successfully catching and prosecuting offenders, making the network safer for colleagues and customers.
Our agency revenue security officers have worn cameras for some time, and now ARL’s station colleagues and revenue inspectors will be given the option to wear one as part of a voluntary trial at selected stations.
“Safety of our people is critically important,” says Elizabeth Umoke, head of revenue protection and security. “We've introduced a number of measures, including security enforcement officers, to increase the presence of enforcement on the network. But it's only right for us to explore every available support mechanism to deter people from acts of violence, and to help prosecute those who do.”
Key findings from the Cambridge body-worn camera study
Body-worn cameras can reduce the likelihood of assault by 47%
While cameras can’t always stop assaults, they do lead to a 30.7% decrease in severe injuries…
…and a 30.5% decrease in low-level injuries
The majority of police prosecutors surveyed found valuable footage in more than 60% of cases
Of frontline respondents, 80% said train operators should roll out cameras fully.
Elizabeth explains how body-worn cameras might be crucial, for example, in situations where previously it would be the word of the victim against the word of the assailant.
“There was a case where a colleague was racially abused, but the police could not take further action because there was no clear evidence of what words were used,” says Elizabeth. “Footage from body-worn cameras would have most likely provided the evidence in that case. In other cases, it can be crucial to prove that colleagues acted correctly, or counter false claims against them – and we have examples of this as well. First and foremost though, it is visible deterrent that has been shown to make potential assailants think twice.”
While there is extensive CCTV coverage around our network, the quality of the sound and images captured close to the incident can make body-worn camera footage a game changer.
“Our CCTV cannot see everything everywhere,” says Dujon Toussaint, head of stations. “And even with fast response times, British Transport Police officers may arrive after the crucial moments when an incident escalates.
“Having something captured during the incident is a much more reliable and accurate reflection of what took place than static cameras with no sound.”
Entirely voluntary
Body-worn cameras will be trialled at five stations in the near future, followed by a review and gathering feedback. The business has also been working constructively with the relevant trade unions on a risk assessment consultation, and are looking to pilot training. Once training has been confirmed and conducted, volunteers will be able to use the cameras at trial locations.
The aim is for every station to have at least one camera available to anyone who has received the required briefing and training and read the body-worn camera policy, but this is subject to a successful trial that has been reviewed with trade union reps.
Wearing a camera will be entirely voluntary, and recording only happens when the wearer activates the camera in a situation where they feel it may be helpful.
“You are in complete control,” adds Dujon. “You press the button to turn it on and off when you wish to record. This cannot be done remotely, and specific people in the business can only access the footage when requested to follow up on an incident. Recordings that are not part of an investigation are deleted after 31 days.
“Its use is voluntary but we hope colleagues will be encouraged to wear and use them as they see the benefits of a visible deterrent in de-escalating difficult situations.”
Built with Shorthand