Every day, railway security teams ensure that millions of people reach their destinations safely and reliably. They maintain a visible presence at stations, accompany trains, assist passengers, enforce the station’s rules and intervene when situations escalate. However, whilst their work is essential for safety, they themselves are increasingly becoming the target of verbal abuse and physical assaults.
The latest figures from the safety report on local rail passenger transport in North Rhine-Westphalia show an alarming rise in safety-related incidents on local services. Particularly affected are ticket inspectors, service staff and security personnel, who are in direct contact with passengers on a daily basis. Insults are actually among the less serious incidents. Security staff report threats and physical attacks on a daily basis.
The staff at Stölting Service Group are on the front line
Staff working in local public transport play a vital role. They help passengers find their way around, ensure safety and take preventative action. Ticket inspections and the enforcement of conditions of carriage, in particular, are increasingly leading to conflicts. What used to be regarded as an isolated exception is now developing into a structural problem. Experts and those in charge are already talking about a shift in society’s attitude towards authority figures and a noticeable decline in mutual respect. For the Stölting Service Group, one thing is clear: attacks on staff must not become the norm.
As a specialist service provider in the rail and train sector, the Stölting Service Group has relied on qualified and professionally trained teams for many years. Our staff make an indispensable contribution to the mobility of millions of people. This makes it all the more important to continually improve their own safety.
Politicians, transport associations and security firms are therefore working together on new measures. These include, amongst other things:
- the increased use of bodycams
- modern video surveillance systems
- additional staffing
- in-depth de-escalation and communication training courses
- close cooperation between transport operators, security service providers and the authorities
At Stölting, patrols in pairs, body cameras and multi-purpose batons are already mandatory. Experience from various operations shows that a visible presence alone can have a de-escalating effect and prevent situations from escalating at an early stage.
Appreciation and respect are a MUST
Behind every uniform there is a person. Every passenger can play their part – by treating others with respect and showing consideration for one another, even in difficult situations.
Our staff are not anonymous supervisory bodies, but dedicated professionals who take responsibility for the common good every day. This is precisely why we need greater social appreciation, more moral courage and a clear stance against all forms of violence. Azzedine Saadou has been with Stölting for eight years and speaks on RTL West about the growing challenges he faces in his day-to-day work and how Stölting supports him.
Working together to tackle violence on public transport
The Stölting Service Group stands by all its employees.
“We are constantly investing in modern safety concepts, technical support and the training and professional development of our teams. At the same time, we are committed to raising public awareness of the daily challenges faced by our staff in the field of rail safety,” said Frank Breuer, Managing Director of Stölting Trainservice GmbH.
Anyone who works day in, day out to ensure the safety of others deserves the very best protection themselves.
Only by working together can we ensure that stations and trains are safe again – for passengers and for those who take on responsibility every day.
WE MAKE. RAILWAY SAFETY.
