Rail staff assault drive widens

Police want to speak to these people about an assault

An annual campaign against people who assault railway staff is being expanded out of London and into major rail hubs in parts of southern England.

The British Transport Police operation will be run at Ashford station in Kent, Brighton in Sussex, Guildford in Surrey and Southampton in Hampshire.

For two months it will target those who verbally or physically abuse, or spit at, members of rail staff.

So-called "spit kits" will be used to bolster forensic evidence.

Metal detection equipment and drugs sniffer dogs will also operate at the stations.

Punched in face

The start of the campaign coincided with BTP appealing for information on an attack at Gillingham railway station, in Kent, on the night of 3 September.

Pc Ben Oliver said: "A member of staff was approached by a male and female who were verbally abusive.

"He was then punched in the face, suffering bruising to his nose and a cut above his eye that required 10 stitches."

CCTV images have been released of a man and woman officers would like to speak to about the incident.

The woman had short dark hair and a light-coloured shirt and dark trousers.

The other person shown in the pictures was described as a heavy-set man, wearing a black shirt, white jacket and baseball cap.