Rail Assault: Security Tape Wiped

The peak NSW union body has expressed concern after the apparent wiping of a security video that showed evidence of an assault upon a rail worker.

The alleged assault occurred on 4th January 2004 at Telarah and Paterson Stations in the Hunter Valley. It was the fourth such time that this particular rail worker had been involved in such an incident in the last 12 months.

The rail worker requested a copy of the Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) tape of the train she was working on and after viewing the tape of the incident discovered that a vitally important part of the tape was missing.

The part of the tape that was missing would have identified the person who had allegedly assaulted her and would have demonstrated the violent act of a person kicking the train and screaming abusive language.

Solicitors acting on behalf of the rail worker have referred this matter to the attention of the police and requested that a full investigation be carried out. The solicitors have also requested that Railcorp ensure that the remaining tapes are maintained in order that a criminal offence is preserved.

The NSW Labor Council has called for an immediate investigation into the incident and the preservation of all CCTV tapes and that the CCTV tape covering the incident on the 4th January is made available to the investigating police.

The Labor Council has written to the head of Railcorp, Vince Graham, to bring this matter - and the treatment of the rail worker after the incident - to the attention of Railcorp.

"The Labor Council is very concerned, not only about the missing critical evidence on the CCTV tape, but also the way that a traumatised StateRail employee is treated following a violent incident," said the NSW Labor Council's OH&S Officer, Mary Yaager.

To discuss this and many other interesting OH & S topics visit our discussion boards at http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/shoptalk/

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:34 EST