Physical abuse.....

What about National Rail staff?

After 3 1/2 years I'm happy to say I have not been subject to any physical abuse... can't become complacent though.

Yep, I've been the victim of an assault. Not nice, because I ended up with three teeth being knocked out, two others loosened. It was in March 2002. I was being held at White City w/b because some kids were messing about at North Acton. Despite myself and station staff making announcements, suggesting alternative routes, not many punters took notice. I sat in the cab, busing myself listening to the back and forth chatter between control and other T/Ops held here and there. I became aware of someone doing a regimental stomp along the saloon, and the J door was booted open. This guy, grabbed hold of me and demanded that I proceed without delay to Northolt. I told him that I could not move because of persons on the track. That did it; a torrent of abuse, he literally lifted me out of the seat, throttled me, shook me like a rag doll, then simply dropped me, adding a nice kick in the groin. As I struggled to get up into the seat, he grabbed me again, this time, I crouched down in the seat as he kept hitting me. I *somehow* managed to blast the whistle for a few seconds. This brought loads of staff from all corners of the station to my assistance. He was dragged off me by some 6 staff and held face down in the saloon. There's me, drooling and in serious pain, being tended to by a passenger, who was a doctor at Whippingham []Hosptial. I heard loads of sirens along Wood Lane. Minutes later, FIVE coppers hauled him away, with the usual struggling and protests. The cab, was NOT a pretty sight. I was off work for some two months. When the case got to court, 6 months later I might add, he was given 4 years courtesy or Her Majesty's Prisons, plus a ban from the system for 10 years, ordered to pay a hefty compensation bill to myself and my employers [!] He initially pleaded not guilty, but later changed his mind, on reasons of 50 or so witnesses and the undeniable evidence of CCTV.

Not something I want to happen again, but since then, I've bene spat at, poked, prodded, rammed in the back with an umbrella, and even had someone try to tell me how to do my job!!!

But 4 years for GBH??? I mean???

[he was 'suffering' from depression due to marriage break up and loss of his employment [e worked for some unpronouncable building firm, who lost several large east end contracts] These reasons, as the judge said, gave him no reason to use me as a punchbag for his problems.]

No worries, not the first to ask and be supplied with requested information
The thing which made it all so funny, was that when I got to hospital, the doctor patchign me up was also taking notes, he asked my my employers details! Remember, I've just had my duty curtailed and am still in full uniform... with badge and hi-vi.

I've always tended to be able to to talk my way out of something potentially physical - but i've been spat on (offender got nicked, for common assault *I think*, and threatened by a ticket a tout at Earls Court which resulted in his arrest for threatening behavior (and six weeks inside). I assisted in pinning down someone that tried to put a steel bar through a ticket office window , broken up four fights , removed several 'undesirables' from stations & trains and, like far too many of my 'operational' colleagues, have been involved in so many verbal assaults I stopped counting years ago. Then there's the weirdo's that just 'wanna be your friend'.

Sadly, far too many people see 'us' as an easy target to vent their frustrations on. Whilst I can sympathise with someone whose journey is going badly, and am prepared to be a representative of the company - there is (as tubeoperator92 implies) absolutely no excuse on earth to make it physical.

I'm glad you had 50 witness's tubeoperator92, sometimes just one witness can be difficult to obtain .

Customers eh
I can remember evacuating Earls Court station because there was reports of a Piccadilly line train coming in on fire. All the punters were intrested in was getting a refund before they left the station, never mind that we were potentially about to have another 'Kings Cross' on our hands (as it turned out, it was a minor track fire).

There's nothing like compassion and understanding from the British public.

In my country when sombody assults a driver the public often helps them. Somethimes it's involivng beating up the attacking person.

He can try of course and one does hear of these stupid cases. But does not the law allow you to stop the guy so long as it is "reasonable" force. (If there's one word which keeps lawyers in business, it's reasonable).

But, going to the public side of things - i was at Stratford on Sunday, and there was about 10 or so chavs sitting on top of a bench just sitting there with 'What the f**k are you doing here' looks that they showed to every passenger who passed!

Would these burdens of society be 'escorted' out of the station? What would happen to em?

Yep - its a never ending argument that no-one'll ever win.

Good

What about chavs ?? (see top of this page for my post)

I was reading something at Upminster earlier today about someone being convicted and fined for "unreasonable behaviour", which is in a railway by-law apparantly. Sounds like a good catch-all! In this case, someone who vomited on the platform and then swore at a member of staff who tried to assist him.

Well, they say justice is only availble to the rich!

Anway, it boils down to the same idea of what is reasonable? A T/Op gets attacked and beaten up. The attacker needs to be stopped. No jury in the world will argue with that. Then you look at how you stop him. Do you use a weapon or not? If theres many witnesses and only one attacker then a weapon would not be justified. That would be unreasonalbe. So you use your bare hands. But how do you restrian him? You could put him in an arm lock, but there is risk of dislocation. So you drag him off and maybe hold him back. That would not be unreasonable. There are very few instances that the attacker would have to be hurt. If he gets away scar free, then you used reasonalbe force. Any extra violence, (i.e. because of your anger) would be unreasonalbe.

If you get into the fight with the attacker because of your actions, then it's a whole new case. The attacker can be prosectued for attacking the T/Op, and you can be prosecuted for attacking the attacker. You had motive. You had means. It is assult, no questions asked.

Exactly. "What if." Basically if you defend yourself properly there is no reason for the attacker to recieve any injuries at all. But how many of us actually take self-defence classes?!

But like you said. "What if". It's massive grey area!