UK Rail Moves To Stop Spitting On Staff

A UK train operator is to use forensic technology to deter attacks on its staff. Central Trains is the first such company in England to issue DNA testing kits to help identify abusers. Staff will be able to take DNA swabs of saliva if they are spat upon.

This follows incidents on NSW State Rail where employees have been subject to assaults, including being spat on.

Spitting makes up a third of the assaults on Central Trains staff and the firm hopes the move will lead to more convictions. The system has already proved successful in Scotland where two people are due in court.

Central Trains spokesperson Les Bird said a new poster "will say that if you assault our staff in any way we will prosecute you. This sort of conduct is completely unacceptable and we want to eliminate it completely."

UK bus driver's‚ union TGWU says the idea could be used to protect its members. It says senior officers will study the plans by Central Trains with a view to having talks with UK bus companies and local authorities to extend it to the bus industry.

"There can be little that is worse than being spat at," said Graham Stevenson, the TGWU's national organiser for transport.

"Not only does it show a lack of respect to the bus driver as a human being, it carries significant health risks. If having DNA kits can provide evidence that leads to convictions and, ultimately, reductions in attacks on bus drivers, then the industry should embrace them."

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:35 EST