Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport - United ...

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Staff safety
61. Transport staff—particularly bus drivers <strong>and</strong> railway ticket inspectors—face an
unacceptable risk of assault <strong>and</strong> abuse when checking tickets or undertaking revenue
protection duties. In 2006/07, there were 299 recorded assaults on railway staff in
London. 61 On London buses in the same period there were 21 recorded major assaults <strong>and</strong>
115 minor assaults on revenue protection officers alone. 62
62. The RMT makes the point that these risks are increased when ticket offices are closed
or vending machines out of action.
All too often staff have to issue penalty fares to passengers who have started their
journey at stations where the ticket office is shut <strong>and</strong> the ticket vending machine is
out of use due to v<strong>and</strong>alism. 63
63. The transport unions <strong>and</strong> passenger groups are concerned that cut-backs in ticket
office staff <strong>and</strong> opening hours are making it difficult for some passengers to get the right
ticket when they need it.
The powers of revenue protection staff
64. The laws <strong>and</strong> regulations currently governing revenue protection on public transport
have developed over many years. Different laws apply to railways, to London
Underground, to buses in London <strong>and</strong> to buses outside London. 64 There is inconsistency
across modes <strong>and</strong> even within modes.
61 Ev 197
62 Ev 162
63 Ev 184
64 Q 303