RMT Demands New Law as Violence Against Rail Staff Surges

The RMT union has urged the Government to introduce a specific criminal offence for assaults on public transport workers, warning that current proposals risk leaving railway staff without the same legal protection offered to other frontline workers.

The call comes ahead of a debate in the House of Lords on the Crime and Policing Bill. The union is backing a cross-party amendment tabled by members of the Lords that would create a standalone offence for assaulting public-facing workers, including those employed across the transport network.

Under the Bill in its current form, the Government plans to introduce a specific offence covering assaults on retail workers. However, transport staff are not included in the proposal. The RMT argues this would effectively create a two-tier system where workers operating in the same location could receive different legal protections depending on their role.

Recent figures from the British Transport Police show a 21 per cent rise in violent incidents against transport workers between April and November 2025. The union has also pointed to its own survey of more than 6,000 members, which found that nearly two-thirds had experienced violence in the workplace within the past year, often on multiple occasions.

Transport workers frequently carry out enforcement duties such as checking tickets, dealing with fare evasion and enforcing railway byelaws. According to the survey, disputes over fares or incorrect tickets were the most common cause of assaults, cited by nearly two-thirds of respondents.

In evidence submitted to Parliament, British Transport Police warned that failing to include transport staff within the legislation could create a serious legal imbalance. Officers said workers within the same station environment could face different levels of legal protection depending on the job they perform.

The RMT is now urging ministers to amend the legislation to introduce a specific offence covering assaults on public transport workers. The union is also calling for greater funding and resources for the British Transport Police to help tackle violence across the rail network and protect frontline staff.

RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said:

“Violence and abuse against transport workers is rising at an alarming and unacceptable rate. However, the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill in its current form, risks leaving our members without the legal protection they need. Rail and transport staff amongst other duties, enforce ticketing rules, railway byelaws and safety regulations every day. This means they are at risk of violent assault, abuse and harassment and must be protected. It cannot be right that a retail worker and a railway worker could be assaulted in the same station but only one of them benefits from a specific criminal offence. The British Transport Police themselves have warned that the current approach is not sufficient, and they need both the legal powers and the resources to properly protect staff and passengers. The Government must act now by introducing a standalone offence covering assaults on public transport workers and all public facing workers alongside ensuring BTP is properly funded to tackle the growing problem of violence on our transport network.”

The union has also highlighted developments north of the border, where a Scottish Government-led working group made up of unions, rail operators and law enforcement agencies has examined ways to strengthen protections for railway staff. The group recommended exploring new legislation, a proposal that has since been accepted in full by the Scottish Government.

RMT says that if the Government declines to amend the current Bill, a similar approach should be adopted across the UK. This could include establishing sector-specific working groups to examine violence against transport staff and develop stronger legal protections.

Image: RMT