SWR expands body-worn cameras after daily assaults

Daily assaults have been recorded in 2025

South Western Railway (SWR) said it was expanding the use of body-worn video cameras following a rise in "unacceptable" assaults and abuse against staff.

The train operator said more than two assaults had been recorded everyday in 2025, including "violent attacks and verbal threats".

The number of reported incidents of violent and public order offences had doubled between 2020-21 and 2024-25, according to British Transport Police (BTP).

Jane Lupson, safety and security director for SWR, said: "The introduction of body-worn video cameras will help deter anyone thinking of abusing a colleague and help prosecute those who do."

'Daily assaults'

Ms Lupson added: "The rise in abuse directed against our colleagues, including daily assaults, is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

"Keeping people safe on our railway is always our number one priority, not least our colleagues who serve our customers with care every day."

Following an initial trial in 2021, SWR has introduced body-worn video cameras for workers in customer-facing roles, such as train guards and gateline assistants.

SWR said the cameras would collect video and audio evidence for use in legal proceedings, and could deter assaults and other anti-social behaviour.

The campaign aims to prevent incidents by alerting potential perpetrators to the use of body-worn video cameras

The train operator has also launched a poster campaign in a bid to prevent incidents, which depict intimidating incidents of abuse from the perspective of workers, captured on a body-worn video camera.

It said a study published by the University of Cambridge, commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group and BTP, suggested body-worn video cameras could reduce the likelihood of assault against the wearer by 47%.

SWR said it achieved the highest possible score of 100% for BTP's safeguarding on rail scheme for two years running.

"We hope this striking new campaign will remind potential perpetrators of the consequences of abuse, for colleagues and for them," Ms Lupson added.