'One attack a day' on train staff

The BTP are trying to identify two suspected people who attacked staffed

At least one attack was reported every day on railway staff in Southern England in April and June, police say.

A total of 110 incidents were reported at stations across Kent, Surrey, south London, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset.

Attacks fell from 125 in 2007, but Supt Martin Fry said despite the drop the attacks were still "appalling".

British Transport Police have released CCTV images of two people suspected of staff assaults, one at Clapham Junction and the other at Cannon Street station.

In the first incident, the woman was alleged to have racially assaulted and punched a member of staff at the ticket barriers on 23 May.

Spat at

In the second image, police suspect a suited man slapped a member of staff on 10 March after being asked for his ticket.

Supt Fry said: "While there has been a drop in the number of incidents, the fact that staff are being spat at, punched and threatened by members of the public is appalling.

"These incidents are occurring from the early hours of the morning and into the night and can involve the entire spectrum of passengers from youths through to well-dressed adults in business attire who should really know better."

In one case, a 14-year-old boy punched, spat at and threatened to stab a member of staff with a pen, when he was asked for his ticket in Bournemouth.