Increase in Railway Worker Assaults - EVG Demands Enhanced Law Enforcement Security
Title: Escalating Violence Against Railway Workers - EVG Stands Firm on Demand for Enhanced Security
Misfits of Society's Decency, Says EVG Chairman
The union EVG is firmly standing its ground, demanding more federal police presence in trains to protect railway workers who are explicitly targeted in an alarming surge of assaults. Martin Burkert, EVG chair, called the escalating attacks a "statistics of shame."
"It's disheartening to see these acts of violence that are repeatedly directed towards our hardworking railway employees. The federal police must step up and provide the necessary protection in long-distance train traffic," Burkert stated.
Blow-by-Blow: A Year in the Life of Violence
The German Bundestag recently released data, compiled following a request from Left Party representatives, that documents an alarming rise in offenses against railway workers. Statistics show that offenses such as assault, grievous bodily harm, and threats against railway workers jumped from 2,799 in 2022 to 3,151 in 2024. Between January and April of this year alone, 1,244 such incidents were reported. If this trend continues, the end of the year could see 3,732 attack cases. The data is based on the federal police's incoming crime statistics.
Dietmar Bartsch, Left Party MP who submitted the request, expressed his concern, stating, "It's appalling to see that more and more individuals are treating railway workers and police officers with utter disregard. This disrespectful behavior is unacceptable and sends a poor reflection of our society." Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt was urged to present a plan before the summer break addressing ways to decrease crime rates.
Employee Unrest
In a survey conducted by the EVG in 2024, more than a third of railway workers reported feelings of insecurity while on the job. Worsening security perceptions were prevalent in two-thirds of cases over the past five years. Incredibly, eight out of ten respondents admitted to having experienced verbal or physical assault, with two-thirds of those attacks occurring within the last twelve months.
Resources: EVG | Federal Police | Deutsche Bahn
Background:
While specific statistics on attacks solely on railway workers aren't readily available, broader security concerns have been evident in Germany, such as the stabbing attack at Hamburg Central Station [1][2][3]. Enhanced safety measures proposed to address these concerns include increased video surveillance with facial recognition [2], additional police forces to manage security tasks, and stricter enforcement of knife bans [2].
When it comes to the specific issue of railway worker security, potential solutions could involve improving workplace safety protocols during maintenance and operational tasks, providing enhanced training for workers on safety and emergency response procedures, and increasing the presence of security personnel at railway depots and maintenance facilities. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for railway workers and mitigate the risks they face daily.
Sources: ntv.de, toh/AFP.
[1] dailyrecord.co.uk[2] thelocal.de[3] dw.com
- "The federal government needs to prioritize the enhancement of security for railway workers, given the increasing incidents of attacks against them, as highlighted by the recent statistics shared by the German Bundestag and EVG."
- "It's crucial for the role of science to be utilized in developing innovative solutions for improving health-and-wellness and crime-prevention strategies within our communities, which can help reduce the number of attacks on railway workers."
- "As the community grapples with the issue of escalating violence against railway workers, responsible authorities must address this matter promptly through collaborative discussions with industry leaders, such as EVG and the Federal Police, to seek viable solutions and appropriate legislation in politics."
