ASSAULTS ON RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

That this House deplores the incidence of assaults on railway staff; recognises that railway employees should be free from any form of verbal or physical abuse; condemns those who commit such offences and in particular the fact that 37 per cent. of assaults are racially motivated according to a recent report by the British Transport Police; welcomes the zero tolerance campaign launched against those who attack railway empoyees; and calls on the Government to work with the British Transport Police, trade unions and train operating companies to tackle assaults on railway staff and increase penalties for such offences.