More than 3,000 assault cases were recorded in the British Transport Police (BTP) annual report for 2006/07 - a rise of 8% on the previous year.

The police force says overall crime fell but anti-social behaviour on trains and at stations was making travellers feel less safe.

Senior officers told them not to suffer in silence but to report trouble.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter, of British Transport Police (BTP), said: "An increase in low level disorder and anti-social behaviour means passengers are more likely to fear becoming a victim of crime."

This ranged from rude behaviour by individuals or groups to more serious threatening and intimidating behaviour often fuelled by alcohol, he said.

'Spittle kits'

The figures also showed that violent offences, sexual offences, hate crime and criminal damage had all increased.

Public disorder spiralled, with 6,689 offences recorded, an increase of 1,747 (34%) on the previous year.

The number of serious assaults however fell by 16%, robberies by 10% and thefts by 6%.

DCC Trotter said the police force had a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour-type offences which resulted in about 4,000 more convictions than in the previous year.

Passengers who spit at drivers and ticket collectors were warned that most staff have access to spittle kits, which enable them to take a DNA sample.

'Security improvements'

Among the 60,000 people to pass through portable metal detectors used in London, more than 300 people were arrested and 285 weapons were recovered by officers, the figures showed.

"We want the millions of passengers who depend upon the network to feel safe, as well as be safe when they are travelling," DCC Trotter said.

"I would urge passengers and staff to support our officers by reporting anti-social behaviour when they witness it rather than suffering in silence or simply ignoring it."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Passengers want a safe and secure transport network and we will continue working with the BTP to deliver it.

"For example, we are expanding the number of stations in the secure stations scheme and asking train operators to spend more on security improvements such as CCTV cameras, better lighting and ticket barriers."

See also:

Attacks on train staff on the up

BBC News: 24 August 2007

Wales's railways saw 315 assaults on members of staff in 2005/06

The number of public disorder offences and assaults on railway staff in Wales and west England have increased in the last year, new figures reveal.

British Transport Police's annual statistics show assaults on railway workers rose by nearly 15% on 2005-06.

The figures also showed instances of public disorder and criminal damage have risen by around a quarter.

However, robberies, fraud offences and violent attacks were down on the previous year.

British Transport Police concluded that the railways were safer in Wales and the west of England in 2006-2007 than ever before, with fewer offences and more convictions.

"It makes me feel very scared, vulnerable and intimidated" - Francis Norman, conductor

The number of violent attacks dropped from 538 to 514. Sexual offences were also down from 39 to 33.

However, there were 315 assaults on members of staff this year - 40 more than the previous 12 months

Conductor Francis Norman from Cardiff Central Station said staff face abuse on an almost daily basis.

Ms Norman said: "Not a day goes past really without some sort of incident.

"It makes me feel very scared, vulnerable and intimidated.

"Its not very nice and it can take a long time to get over such an incident... it can be very upsetting.

British Transport Police want people to report offences on the railways

"I wish something more could be done about it to make our lives a lot better, makes our jobs a bit easier."

Superintendent Paul Richards, of British Transport Police's operations unit for Wales and the Western area, said the figures covered an area stretching from Bristol to Birmingham and Nottingham.

He said the "relatively low" figures also needed to be seen in the perspective of improved reporting procedures.

"Violent crime in Wales has dropped by 9.5 %, sexual offences 16.5%, so there's some really good news and really positive work going on," he added.

"And again, we're doing a lot of pro-active work around hotspot areas where we're getting particular problems.

"We stop it by getting the community involved. They need to identify who these people are - we have a tremendous success as far as detections are concerned- and its sending out the right message."

He said he did not want the public to be "getting directly involved" but to report offenders.

Train disabled

The problem of crime on Welsh railways was highlighted in May this year when one train company threatened to withdraw some of its services.

Arriva Trains Wales said that instances of crime and disorder had nearly doubled so far that year.

In March, passengers were left stranded after a train was disabled by a gang of youths at Ystrad Rhondda.

The guard - who had a fire extinguisher let off in his face and a bottle thrown at him - driver and three security guards were left terrified.

Arriva Trains Wales warned that if unless things improved it would have to cancel some services on the stretch of track between Pontypridd and Treherbert.