Deutsche Bahn is seeing a rise in violence against its employees in regional transport: in the first half of the year, there were 989 attacks, as reported by the subsidiary DB Regio. Among these were 781 cases of minor bodily harm, such as shoving and spitting on train attendants or service staff. 22 employees were seriously injured, for example by punches, and in 185 cases there were attempted assaults.
The company is responding with a package of security measures. In the future, checks on trains are to be carried out by six to eight employees equipped with stab-resistant vests. Mobile support units will receive helmets. In addition, more and more staff in regional and long-distance transport are being equipped with body cameras, although wearing them is still voluntary.
In a test phase in the Rhine-Neckar-Palatinate region, the cameras are to record not only images but also sound in conflict situations. This supports de-escalation and helps in the prosecution of crimes, said Harmen van Zijderveld, CEO of DB Regio AG. From October, the technology will be tested for two months with the participation of the Hessian data protection officer, after which it is to be introduced nationwide.
Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger (CDU) called the figures and the employees’ accounts shocking. Zijderveld stressed: “We cannot change social developments, but we can ensure that our trains are places of safety and respect in the public sphere – for employees and passengers.”
Source: Tagesschau
