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Why Peoplesafe?

The news we read demonstrates the risks and problems faced by people everyday. When those risks are posed by our employment circumstances then employers have a duty of care to mitigate those risks.

This page highlights some of the incidents we have seen where the Peoplesafe service would be an effective solution and deterrent to the costs (calcuable and human) of agression, violence and risks that people face in their working environment.

Lorry driver kidnapped by robbers

A lorry driver has been kidnapped by three robbers who drove off with his load of Black and Decker tools. The men burst into the cab by smashing a window of the lorry, which was parked in a lay-by off the A14 between Spaldwick and Catworth, Cambridgeshire.

The driver was ordered to lay face down in the cab before being forced into the boot of a car, which was driven off. He was later set free in Preston, Lancashire, after travelling in the boot for hours.

The lorry was later found on fire in Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. Det Insp Craig Harrison of Cambridgeshire Police said: "This was a frightening ordeal for the driver. "It is the second lorry to be hijacked from the A14 in 10 days so we are investigating whether they are linked."

BBC News website, 24th March 2007

Lorry driver kidnapped by robbers

A driver was kidnapped by three robbers who drove his lorry from Cambridgeshire to Merseyside then stole his £300,000 load of televisions. The men burst into the cab of the white Iveco Stralis after the victim parked in a layby off the A14 near Huntingdon.

The robbers ordered the driver to lie down, covered him with a duvet, then drove the lorry along the A14 and onto the M6 to Merseyside on 14 March.  They then unloaded the container of 776 specialist televisions for caravans. The driver was then released and the lorry was set on fire at the Village Hotel in Fallows Way, Whiston, Merseyside.

bbc news, 15th March 2007

A care worker is attacked in Reading area every day

SOCIAL care workers across the Reading area have been attacked on an astonishing 379 occasions since January 2005. A Reading Chronicle investigation has revealed that on average one person is attacked every day while doing their job. Workers have been regularly punched, kicked and scratched, leaving them with a catalogue of facial, bodily and head injuries.

In Reading borough, between January 2005 and last July, 67 carers were subjected to physical attacks while 48 suffered verbal abuse. In that same period 156 West Berkshire Council carers were physically attacked, with another 73 verbally abused.

icberkshire.co.uk, 15th March 2007

Attacks on teachers 'every day'

A teacher suffers a violent attack almost every school day in England, official government figures suggest. There were 221 attacks on teachers last year alone, and 1,128 between 2000 and 2006, information revealed by the Liberal Democrats shows.

The figures show the number of injuries caused by violent attacks increased by a fifth over the same period. Lib Dem education spokeswoman Sarah Teather, who obtained the figures, said such attacks led to fear in schools

BBC News Website, 1st Feb 07

Incident 522 January 24 - Robbery/kidnap/Theft of Computers, Fosseway, Hunningham - Warwickshire.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a delivery driver was threatened at knifepoint as he stopped at a junction on the Fosseway at Hunningham. He was forced to drive to Withybrook Lane near Rugby where he was bundled into another car. Laptop computers were stolen from the delivery van which was later found burnt out.

The man was driving a City Link van and made a delivery at the Heathcote Industrical estate near Leamington at around 17:25 on January 24. He left the industrial estate and drove onto the Fosseway via Harbury Lane. As he left the industrial estate he flashed his lights to allow a green Golf TDI car onto Tachbrook Road. The van driver was aware that the green Golf was in front of him as he travelled along Harbury Lane onto the Fosseway and when he approached Hunningham.

Warwickshire police website, 25 January 2006

The rising tide of violence in our schools

The alarming scale of violence and abuse faced by teachers in Norfolk schools on a daily basis is today exposed. Staff revealed classrooms and playgrounds as increasingly violent and abusive places after logging a catalogue of incidents including teachers being kicked, punched, having things thrown at them and verbally abused.

Unions, concerned more than ever about the rise in disorder in schools, asked the county's teachers to record the abuse they suffered or witnessed and in just one week there were more than 100 incidents. Twenty per cent involved some form of violence, while 70 per cent involved verbal abuse.

Norwich Evening News, 15 Jan 2007

Machete raid terror at city jewellers

Masked robbers target lone woman in pub

TWO masked men - one believed to have been armed with a sword - demanded cash from a female worker in a raid at a Warwickshire pub. The men raided the Bull and Anchor pub in Wheelwright Lane, Ash Green, shortly after midnight yesterday.

They are believed to have gained access to the building through a rear door. One, wearing a balaclava and armed with a sword, went through to an office and demanded cash from the woman who was alone.

IC Coventry, Jan 9 2007

Gun-toting robbers threatened staff in two terrifying raids.

A woman assistant had a pistol pointed in her face at William Hill bookmakers on Westcliffe Drive, Layton at 6.30pm on Friday. Two men then burst into The Winery off licence on Victoria Road West, Cleveleys at 9.30pm on Saturday and threatened the lone female worker with a gun.

Blackpool news, 9th Dec 2006

Shop worker in blade terror

A LONE female shop assistant was attacked by a blade-wielding robber in a terrifying off-licence raid. The woman was shoved out of the way before the raider grabbed £250 from the till drawer from the Local Off Licence on Lytham Road, South Shore. Police said the woman was left "incredibly shaken" in the incident which happened at around 8pm on Wednesday. Police hunting the thug say he was carrying a bladed weapon, possibly a knife or a screwdriver.

Blackpool News, 9th Dec 2006

Shopkeeper attacked in armed raid

A newsagent was taken to hospital after being subjected to a violent attack during an armed robbery in Lancashire. Police said three men armed with a handgun and a knife went into Bastwell's on Whalley New Road, Blackburn, on Monday evening.

One man forced the shopkeeper to hand over the till's contents - about £700 - before attacking him with the knife. The 32-year-old was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital with lacerations to his head. Police are hunting the gang.

bbc news, 31st Oct 2006

Usdaw United to give verbal abuse a red card as half a million shopworkers are abused every working day 10 July 2006 Shopworkers have come together as Usdaw United Against Abuse to give disgusting verbal abuse from shoppers the red card after a new survey found a staggering 95% of retail staff have been verbally abused and half a million suffer verbal abuse every day. Usdaw United Against Abuse teams across the UK will be handing out red cards to the public on national Respect for Shopworkers Day reminding shoppers that verbally abusing staff is a form of intimidation suffered by millions of retail workers every year. “Our research has found that at least half a million shopworkers are verbally abused every working day,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “Most shoppers would never think of physically assaulting a shopworker, but many seem to think it is alright to scream the most disgusting abuse into the faces of retail workers.” usdaw news release 10th July 2006 usdaw - freedom from fear campaign please note for clarity: whilst Peoplesafe is used by many clients in a retail environment our services are not endorsed by usdaw.

Cashier tied up in shop robbery

A cashier was tied up and left in a storeroom during a robbery at a video shop in Hertfordshire. It happened at Blockbuster video, in Welwyn Garden City, on Friday night after a man entered the store through a rear door.

Money and play station consoles were taken in the robbery. Police said the 21-year-old female cashier was not injured but had been left traumatised by what happened. Officers have appealed for witnesses.

BBC News, 2nd July 2006

Woman Injured in violent robbery

A 54-year-old shop worker was violently attacked during a robbery at a newsagent in Greater Manchester. The woman was punched in the face and thrown across the counter by one of two men who went into the shop on Barton Road in Stretford on Sunday morning. Both men made off with cigarettes and cash after the attack. The woman was treated for cuts and severe bruising at Trafford General Hospital.

Police said it was important the men were caught before they struck again. The victim has since been released from hospital but has been left traumatised by the robbery.

BBC News, 26th June 2006

Security driver cuffed to own van

A security van driver was threatened with a gun and handcuffed to his van during a robbery. The man, from the Derby area, was stopped by a gang at a petrol station on the A38 at Fradley, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, on Monday morning.

He was forced into a waiting van before his own vehicle was stolen, and both were driven to an isolated area. The gang transferred several thousands of pounds to a white Transit van, which was then driven towards the A38.

BBC News, 13th June 2006

Racial attack on Asian shopkeeper

An Asian shopkeeper has been verbally and physically assaulted during a racial attack in Edinburgh. Three men entered the A&A Discount Store in Niddrie. One of them shouted insults and hit the owner with what appeared to be a metal chain. Police said the 53-year-old was not seriously hurt but had been left very shaken by the attack on Tuesday.

17th May 2006, BBC News

Shop worker attacked and burned

A shop worker was assaulted and treated for minor burns after a store was set alight in the West Midlands.

The 35-year-old worker had just opened the general store in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, when he was attacked by a man who came into the shop.

bbc news, 2nd May 2006

Teachers are reporting a rise in violence from pupils.

But many say they cannot speak up for fear of being seen as weak or damaging the school's reputation. The NASUWT union, holding its annual conference in Birmingham, says putting up with abuse should never been seen as "just part of the job".

How bad is the situation? One secondary teacher from Shropshire, who did not want to be named, told the BBC News website said he had been slapped six times by a drunken pupil who had returned to the school after being excluded.

bbc news, 14 Apr 2006

Knifepoint robbery at bookmakers

Staff at a Middlesbrough bookmakers were left "terrified" after being held up at knifepoint by a masked robber. The raid happened as the 50-year-old manageress and a female trainee were locking up for the night at the Coral bookmakers in Birchington Avenue.

A man with a large knife and wearing a balaclava entered the shop on Monday night and threatened the women. He then ran off when the women handed over cash. Cleveland Police said they were "traumatised" by their ordeal.

BBC News, 25th January 2006

Other Robberies at bookmakers ...

Rugby (Hillmorton Road), 5th Feb 2006 - Warwickshire Police

Rugby (Kingsway) 28th Jan 2006 - Warwickshire Police

Glasgow 19th Jan 2006 - ATE Online

Ashtead Dec 4th 2005 - IC Surrey Online

Telford 17th Aug 2005 - ATE Online

Benfleet & Leigh 20th June 2005 - This is Essex

Basford, Nottingham 7th June 2005 - BBC News

Edenbridge 11th May 2005 - East Kent Police

Driver abducted in bungled raid

A delivery driver was assaulted and abducted during a bungled robbery at a cash and carry in Liverpool. The man and his passenger were attacked by a gang as they delivered cigarettes to Costco in Waterloo Road, Kirkdale.

The robbers left empty-handed after failing to start the delivery van, but bundled the driver into their vehicle and later dumped him in Fonthill.  Insp Rob Hill said: "This was a vicious attack on two people who were simply trying to do their job.

BBC News, 20th Jan 2006

In one of the biggest security training operations ever, by March 2006, about 252,000 frontline NHS staff will have received conflict resolution training.

The NHS Security Management Service has released statistics on the number of physical assaults on hospital and ambulance staff in England. There were 11,482 physical assaults against NHS staff in acute hospitals, and 1,329 against ambulance staff in 2004/05 - across England. In 2002/03 Department of Health figures showed 37,776 assaults in hospitals and 5,412 involving ambulance staff.

Professional Security Magazine, 18th Jan 2006

Sharp rise in school expulsions

The number of pupils who have been permanently expelled from Scottish schools has risen sharply, new figures have shown. Permanent exclusions increased by 54% to 271 in 2004/05, while temporary exclusions also rose by 8% to 41,703. A quarter of exclusions resulted from verbal abuse, 30% from disobedience and 13% involved offensive behaviour. The education minister said he welcomed councils taking tough action to remove troublemakers from classes. A total of 84% of the exclusions involved youngsters at secondary school, while 12% were at primary school and 2% were at special school.

BBC News, 31 Jan 2006

Man kicked during armed robbery

A man has been assaulted during a robbery at a fast food restaurant in Coleraine involving three masked men. The man, who works in the restaurant at Riverside Business Park, had a knife put to his back at about 2050 GMT on Wednesday and was made to lie down. He was then kicked in the ribs. Two other robbers, one with a metal bar, told another worker to empty a till.

BBC News, 19th Jan 2006

NASUWT survey reveals insults and threats are part of Teachers’ daily life

Some teachers across the South West of England face a daily torrent of abuse and threats, according to a new survey by NASUWT, the largest union representing teachers and headteachers throughout the UK.

The poll of 355 teachers, taken over a two-week period in November, asked teachers to record the level of verbal abuse they faced on a day-to-day basis.

Of the recorded insults, 71% happened in the classroom, with only 1% outside school. Of most concern were the 13 incidents where teachers were threatened with violence. In one school a teacher was told by a pupil "I'm going to petrol-bomb your car." In another, the comment was "I'm going to get my brother to stab you in the face."

The results found the worst time for verbal abuse was just before lunch, and the worst day of the week Monday. Year 10 pupils were those most likely to swear.

NASUWT, Jan 16 2006

TES, Jan 20 2006

Driver abducted in whisky robbery

Police have been hunting thieves who abducted a lorry driver before hijacking his trailer containing £200,000 worth of whisky and gin.

The 49-year-old driver was flagged down on Monday afternoon as he headed for the M74 from the Cairn Lodge service station, in Douglas. He was threatened with what was thought to have been a firearm before being taken to a van and driven off. He was returned to his lorry but the trailer containing the whisky had gone.

BBC News, 10th Jan 2006

Gang steal £400K camcorder haul

a £400,000 haul of camcorders was stolen after a gang hijacked a lorry and handcuffed its driver. Almost 2,000 JVC digital camcorders were unloaded from the lorry after it was stopped in Berkshire.

The lorry was pulled over on Horton Road, Colnbrook, and driven off with its driver handcuffed in the back before the cameras were unloaded.

BBC NEWS, 14TH dEC 2005

Robbers steal drinks-laden lorry

A lorry carrying £100,000 of wines and spirits has been stolen by a gang of robbers who tied up the driver after he stopped in a North Lincolnshire lay-by.

The 31-year-old truck driver, from the Rotherham area, raised the alarm after being abandoned behind a mobile cafe at Althorpe on the A18 on Monday night.

BBC News, 22nd November 2005

Concern over workplace violence

Almost half of all young Scottish workers who deal with the public have been exposed to violence, according to new research. The study was part of a Scottish Executive 'Bang out of order' campaign urging people to know their rights in the workplace. It also revealed 31 per cent had been verbally or physically attacked, threatened, sworn or spat at by a member of the public in the last 12 months.

TUC, 18 November 2005

Assaults on Jobcentre staff rise

Attacks against Jobcentre staff have risen by 62% since jobs were cut in the department 18 months ago, a union says.

Some centres were fast becoming like the "Wild West" because of the "alarming" rise in violence, the Public and Commercial Services Union said.

Thursday 8th September, bbc news website,

Fire engines employ CCTV security

Closed circuit television cameras are to be fitted to fire engines in Greater Manchester in a bid to reduce attacks on fire crews. The move follows 11 attacks on firefighters in the county over the Bonfire Night weekend. Greater Manchester Fire Service has recorded 175 attacks so far this year, and said it is not unusual for crews to have stones and tree branches thrown at them.

7th November 2005, BBC News Website

Usdaw horrified at rise in violence against retail staff

Retail union Usdaw is horrified that the latest British Retail Consortium crime survey has revealed another steep rise in violence inflicted on shopworkers.

The Retail Crime Survey for 2004 revealed the worse figures for over a decade showing that physical violence against staff was up by an alarming 14% since 2003 and verbal abuse rose by a staggering 35%.

“These figures are very disturbing as it seems a small section of criminals and irresponsible consumers think shopworkers can be treated as physical and verbal punchbags,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “We’ve been running a hugely successful Freedom From Fear campaign designed to combat these problems so it’s frightening to think that the problem could be even worse without our efforts.”

19th October 2005, Usdaw news item

'3,000 attacks' on nurses in year

HSE Website asks .. "Is it legal to work alone and is it safe?"

Read the Peoplesafe Response to the HSE Loneworker Advice.

Former world champion boxer Chris Eubank threatened to "deck" a lorry driver and swore before driving off in his vehicle, magistrates have heard. Scottish Courage employee Gary Chandler said Mr Eubank ran at him, swore and started a row before entering the cab.

Mr Eubank, 39, of Upper Drive, Hove, denies a charge of aggravated vehicle taking in a case being heard by Brighton Magistrates.

September 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4205036.stm

Note - this case highlights the growing issue of verbal abuse and the disruptive effective it has on employees. The Peoplesafe service is there to be used by an employee in the event that they feel abused or that threats of physcial violence are being made. In the event that a company wishes to pursue an agressor then the recordings made around the device at the time of the incident will be submissable as evidence.

Bank workers held hostage in raid

STAFF were tied up and held "hostage" in a terrifying £80,000 bank raid. Robbery squad detectives today revealed the gun-toting gang broke into the Kirkham branch of Lloyds TSB during the night and lay in wait for staff to arrive. As they did, two masked raiders – both wearing balaclavas – pounced. Seven terrified staff were tied up as the gang armed with a sawn-off shotgun raided the safe.

27th August 2005 bbc news website

blackpooltoday website  - news item

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Rail café woman’s robbery nightmare

A MASKED robber poured lighter fluid over a terrified cafe worker and threatened to set her alight at Chester railway station. Details of the horrifying attack, revealed in yesterday’s Evening Leader, have now been released. The middle-aged woman was working on platform four of the station when she was tied up and gagged before the robber made off with the cafe takings.

30th Aug 2005, Chester Evening Leader

Violent crime has risen by almost 12 per cent on Britain's railways.

The British Transport Police (BTP) responded to 9,748 cases of violent crime over the course of 2004, many of which were alcohol-related.  But the total number of offences on the railways fell by two per cent. Transport police are now questioning the wisdom of government\'s planned extension to drinking hours, while unions are calling for an increased police and staff presence at stations.

Policitics.co.uk Public Services News Item

24 Aug 2005, BBC News Item http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4178958.stm

Operation Tranquility tackles abusive customers

A new initiative to protect shop and pub staff from verbal and physical abuse is launched in Leamington Spa this week.

Operation Tranquillity is a joint project spearheaded by Leamington's town centre policing team with the support of Warwickshire Retail Crime Initiative and Warwick District Council. Tranquillity spells out a clear message from police to retailers and pub staff: Don't tolerate individuals who cause distress through abuse and harassment. Action can be taken. Police are concerned that incidents of verbal and physical abuse or persistent shoplifting are not reported because staff feel the authorities have few powers to tackle the problem.

15th June 2005, Warwickshire Police Website - News Item

Street Cleaners Suffering Dog's Abuse

OVER TWO THIRDS of the UK’s street cleaners have been physically and verbally abused while on the job – including attacks with guns, knives and drug needles.

So says cleaning industry voice, the British Cleaning Council (BCC), who today (Monday 1st August) revealed figures showing that assaults are taking place at all times of the day anywhere from residential areas to bus stations.

Judith West, Chair of BCC said: “We are outraged to hear of the cowardly behaviour and mentality of those prepared to harass our street cleaners. What is even more devastating is that many cleaners believe that being assaulted is all part and parcel of the job!”

1st August 2005, BCC Website, See Press Release

1st August 2005, BBC News Website, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4732837.stm

Angry Britons lash out at workers

Assaults on customer-facing staff have rocketed in the last two years, as angry Britons vent their anger and frustration.

Struggling to cope with the pressures of everyday life, more people than ever are resorting to physical and verbal attacks on others, with tickets inspectors, paramedics, nurses, hospitality, security and other customer-facing staff taking the brunt.

Research carried out by City & Guilds to support the demand for conflict management training as part of a long term solution to workplace conflict, reveals that more than a third (37 per cent) of Britons have been verbally abused whilst at work. One in six (16 per cent) have been threatened and a further seven per cent have been physically abused by a member of the public.

1 July 2005, City & Guilds Press Release, Angry Britons Lash Out at Workers

Inner-city areas on DHL blacklist

An international courier firm has suspended deliveries to some of the UK\'s inner-city areas because of thuggish behaviour by gangs of youths. DHL has put parts of London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham off limits because of complaints from its drivers.

19th June, 2005 BBC News Website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4108470.stm

Armed raid Fast Food staff see counsellors

A  fast food restaurant in Wiltshire is to offer its staff counselling after an armed robbery on Sunday. Two men escaped with cash after the raid at a McDonalds in Chippenham. The masked pair had walked into the Bath Road branch. One was carrying a firearm and demanded cash from the frightened staff.

27th June 2005, BBC News Website, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/4627643.stm

Non-teaching staff 'suffer abuse'

Support staff in higher education institutions, such as cleaners and cooks, are often harassed by academics and students, a report suggests. Research for the union Unison found such staff in universities and colleges across the UK were treated with little respect for the services they provided.

16th June 2005, Unison Press Release http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=2087

18th June 2005, BBC News Website. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4106020.stm

 Traffic warden\'s shock

A FURIOUS motorist threw steaming hot porridge over a traffic warden when his car was given a parking ticket. The warden escaped serious injury but was left shocked after the driver flew into a rage and attacked him after receiving the ticket - even though his car was parked unlawfully.

19th June 2005 IC-SouthLondon News Page

Head teachers complain of abuse

Head teachers say they are increasingly being abused, threatened and assaulted by parents. The National Association of Head Teachers says, in January alone, five head teachers were attacked by parents, while 10 were threatened by them.

And it says threats are often also directed against other staff, school governors or head's families. At its annual conference, in Telford this weekend, the group called for tougher action against abusive parents.

BBC News, April 2005

Bank Manager and Family Kidnapped

A bank manager and his family were kidnapped by a gang who then robbed a Manchester branch. The men took the family from their home in Leigh on Tuesday, making them drive to a mystery location at gunpoint.

24th September 2004 Manchester Evening News / Manchesteronline

Shop staff 'in fear of abuse at work'

Shopworkers are suffering a horrifying level of abuse from customers, facing verbal threats and violence and even being attacked in the street after work, according to a survey out today.

A snapshot of a week in the life of retail staff showed a rising tide of violence and abuse, including racial and sexual incidents. Their union, Usdaw, called for more protection to be given to shopworkers as part of a week-long campaign urging the public to "show more respect".

5th July 2004 Norwich Union Risk Service - News Item

USDAW - Freedom for Fear Campaign

Computers stolen in lorry hijack

Police are appealing for witnesses after a lorry carrying computer equipment worth £200,000 was hijacked. Three men in balaclavas overpowered the 55-year-old driver as his lorry was parked at Altham Business Park near Accrington, Lancashire, on Thursday. The men, who had Merseyside accents, drove south along the M65 and M6 before getting into a dark hatchback car. The lorry driver suffered minor injuries and was released at an industrial estate in Pemberton, Wigan.  

4 March, 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/4320445.stm

Robber hijacks 500 mobile phones

A robber got away with hundreds of mobile phones after hijacking a van. A man smashed the driver\'s window as the van approached Northampton\'s Riverside Industrial Estate, opened the door and threatened to stab the driver. The attacker drove off in the white Mercedes van after forcing the driver out of the passenger door. The van was abandoned on the Bedford Road, near to Barns Meadow roundabout on Friday minus the consignment of 500 Samsung D500 mobile phones.

28 February, 2005,  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/4304735.stm

DNA kits to fight train violence

Rail staff in the north-west of England are being given DNA swab kits to reduce assaults on employees and passengers. The packs will be issued to staff on board Northern Rail trains, which cover Cumbria, after statistics showed a growing number of assaults on workers.

21 March, 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/4367525.stm

CCTV cameras are being installed on all trains operated by a company in Wales following violent attacks on staff.

The cameras are intended to improve security on Arriva services, which run across Wales and the north of England. The announcement, on Tuesday, coincides with the launch of a UK-wide rail industry campaign to tackle assaults on railway employees. The new CCTV system has been funded by £2m from the Welsh Assembly Government. Eighty-five Arriva trains will be fitted with two cameras inside, with a forward-facing camera in the driver\'s cab to record any trespassing on the line.

Arriva Trains Wales carries more than 60,000 passengers a day. Since January 2004, there have been 28 verbal and 40 physical assaults reported against the company\'s employees. According to Arriva, 59% of the assaults against staff were physical with train conductors most at risk. Verbal assaults against employees were highest in north Wales with 20 incidents reported compared with one in mid Wales and seven in south Wales.

30 November, 2004  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4053557.stm

Arriva operates train services across Wales

£200,000 payout for social worker 

A FEMALE social worker has been paid more than £200,000 in compensation from her employers yesterday for a vicious assault "which could have been avoided".

The social worker\'s union Unison condemned Swansea City and County Council after the worker and her family were videotaped by private detectives checking out her injuries.

The social worker, in her 30s, was injured in June 1998 when attacked by a client of the council\'s social services department in one of its Swansea offices.

10 Road Haulage Staff attacked/hijacked last month

In the last quarter to September 2003 there were 10 hijacks (violent attacks) against road haulage operatives. There were a total of 437 incidents reported by Truckpol in the same period.

Road Haulage Association, Press Release

Driver killed in lorry robbery

A delivery driver has been run down and killed as he tried to stop thieves stealing his lorry in east London.

Ian Jones, 44, from Hawkhurst in Kent was run over as he stood in front of his 18-ton lorry in a service yard in Chingford on Thursday. He pulled in to deliver goods to the Currys store in Hall Lane just before 1300 BST and had gone inside to tell staff he had arrived.

But a white Ford Transit box van pulled into the service area, with up to three men inside, one of whom got into Mr Jones\' lorry and tried to drive it away. Mr Jones stood in front of the lorry but was run over. He died from his injuries shortly afterwards.

8th August 2003, BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3135223.stm

Trapped Worker Cheats Death

A 44 year old worker is in hospital with sever head and spinal injuries after a heavy piece of equipment fell on him. Fire-fighters were called out to release the man who was trapped under a one tonne section of conveyor belt.

The Newcastle Chronicle, Aug 2002

HSE Target Loneworker Assaults

With 1.3 million violent attacks on workers each year, work-related violence can range from physical assaults to verbal abuse and threatening behaviour.

HSE Website http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2004/e04013.htm

Home Office Report: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/occ-violence.pdf

Same Report available on Peoplesafe Website: Violence at Work

Shop Staff Violence

Most Merseyside shop staff have faced a physical or verbal attack in the past year, an investigation by union chiefs has revealed. ‘Voices from the Frontline’ contains graphic reports of attacks and threats against shopworkers. More than half of people working in Merseyside supermarkets and stores have been battered or abused by customers over the past 12 months.

Liverpool Echo

Ceramic mobiles stolen in hijack

A stolen lorry has been used to hijack a trailer which contained 5,000 mobile phones, police have said. A lorry stolen on 4 January from Trouse Lane, Wednesbury, on the A45 Kenpas Highway, Coventry. West Midlands was used to ram another truck on 6 January. One of the hijackers drove off with the truck when its driver got out of the vehicle to inspect the damage.

12 January, 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4168039.stm

Hijackers attack truck driver

The truck contained 900 bags of catalogue clothes A lorry driver has been hijacked at knifepoint at a motorway service station. Two men forced their way into the man\'s lorry cab at Hopwood Services, off the M42, in Worcestershire, on Monday night. The driver was forced to drive to Minworth, where he was told to pull into a layby. The hijackers pushed the man into the boot of a car driven by a third accomplice, before leaving him at junction six of the motorway, near the National Exhibition Centre.