§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action the Government have take since 1997 to protect(a) bus workers and (b) other public transport staff from assaults at work. [53641]
§ Ms KeebleSince 1997 the Department has produced a number of good practice guidance documents for transport operators on what actions they can take to protect their staff from assaults at work. The guidance covers the training of staff, the recording and monitoring of incidents, and management practices which could help staff who have been assaulted. For example, earlier this month we published guidance and a good practice case studies report on improving personal security in bus travel for passengers and staff.
The Health and Safety Commission has agreed a three year programme of work (2000–03) to help employers from all sectors tackle the increasing problem of work-related violence. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for taking the programme forward.
More generally, the Government are taking action to reduce all violent crime through a number of measures, based on a concerted strategy of targeted policing, effective punishment and interventions to address the underlying conditions which breed violence.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to ban members of the public from using public transport if they assault staff. [53643]
§ Ms KeeblePowers are already available to individual transport operators and the criminal justice system to ban those convicted of violence while using public transport systems from using public transport.