RMT warns of surge in violence against rail workers while BTP presence cut

Rail union RMT says there’s a sharp rise in attacks on rail workers. But it’s happening at the same time as cuts to the British Transport Police (BTP) presence on the network.

Official figures show a 17% rise in assaults on workers over the summer compared with the same period last year.

Across the full reporting year to August 2025, the rate of offences has increased by nearly 13%, with 2,299 incidents recorded between June and August alone.

Funding shortfall

RMT says the escalation coincides with significant cuts to BTP jobs and station coverage caused by a funding shortfall.

This is leaving officers too thinly spread to maintain a visible presence across the railway.

The union also highlighted BTP’s own warning that it only achieved higher deployment following the Huntingdon attack through “12-hour shifts, overtime, and a pause on non-urgent paperwork, including prosecution files”. It added, “this cannot be sustained for long”.

The union says it’s now clear that current BTP staffing levels are inadequate to protect workers or the travelling public from anti social and violent behaviour.

Rail workers’ demands

As part of its Action Against Assault campaign, RMT is calling on the government to:

Amend the Crime and Policing Bill currently in the Lords to create a standalone offence for assaulting a public transport worker.

Provide a long-term, secure funding settlement for BTP to restore policing levels across the network.

End unsafe lone working practices, reverse driver-only train operation, and guarantee minimum safe staffing.

The union also reiterated if employers do not take concrete steps to protect workers, RMT could launch a national ballot for industrial action.

RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said:

Rail workers are facing increasing levels of violence while policing resources meant to protect them and passengers are being cut back.

A 17% rise in assaults represents real people being punched, threatened, spat at and abused for simply doing their jobs.

This is not a situation our union will ever accept.

BTP officers themselves have warned that their current level of deployment is unsustainable.

The government must step in with a proper funding plan and must legislate for a standalone offence to deter attacks on public transport workers.

If employers fail to act, our union will not hesitate to move towards a national ballot to ensure our members are protected at work.

Featured image via RMT