Assaulted Guard Told to Diffuse

A City Rail guard who investigated reports of a door being held open – and ended up knocked unconscious – was later told by management he did not do enough to “diffuse the situation.”

The 28-year-old went to investigate a door being held open at Birrong station, in Sydney's inner west, when four teenagers on the platform began to hurl abuse at him.

"I said, 'I'm not here to talk to you, it's something else'," he said.

When the abuse turned to threats of violence, he turned around, and one of the teenagers was in his face.

The next thing he knew, he was struggling to get up off the ground.

"We checked the security cameras later and one of them hit me from behind," he said.

The guard said he was told in a meeting with management he should have either waited until to check the door at the next station or gone through the train.

"I'm not going to presume that they're going to jump me," he said.

"And what if I waited and someone fell out - I'd get in trouble if I didn't check it out."

NSW secretary Nick Lewocki estimates there are at least two reported assaults on public transport workers each week.

Lewocki said the union had put the case to the State Government for increased penalties for assaulting public transport workers, and it would not be long until further action.

"It won't be long before we're going to stations and asking staff what they think of this," Lewocki said.

He said the spotlight needed to be thrown on what was a growing problem.

"We'd be saying it [penalties] be sign posted, advertised on TV, radio and in newspapers, and if someone is charged it should be publicised."

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Last modified: Thursday, 24-Nov-2005 10:27:04 EST