Body cameras help convict man who kicked TfL officers

A man has been imprisoned thanks to body cameras recording an assault against two Transport for London (TfL) officers.

The man was sentenced by Westminster Magistrates Court to 12 weeks in jail after the attack on the TfL Transport, Support and Enforcement Officers, who were sent to deal with a passenger being aggressive towards customer service staff.

The man was asked to leave Baker Street Tube station by four officers. Once outside, the man became aggressive and abusive and tried to force his way through, assaulting the officers with several kicks.

Photos of the injuries and the body camera footage is what TfL say helped secure the conviction: two 12-week concurrent sentences.

4,500 body-worn cameras for staff have been in operation across the TfL network since the end of 2020 to help reduce workplace violence.

Body-worn cameras have been shown to reduce the number of incidents of violence and aggression towards staff, as demonstrated in a British Transport Police trial with Cambridge University, which saw a 47 per cent reduction in staff assaults. 

Head of transport policing and community safety at TfL, Mandy McGregor, said: “Everyone has the right to go about their day without fear or intimidation and we do not tolerate any form of physical or verbal abuse towards our staff or customers. Body worn video footage, like CCTV, continues to provide vital evidence to the police and serves as a powerful deterrent to those who intend on abusing our staff.”

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