At least six staff were physically assaulted and another 50 spat at or verbally abused during a 'booze party' on the Circle Line organised to mark the introduction of a 'half-baked' alcohol ban imposed without consultation with Tube staff, says RMT.

"Johnson should apologise personally to all those who were assaulted and abused last night thanks to a half-baked gimmick designed solely as a publicity stunt and without a moment's thought for the people told to implement it," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"We have made it clear that RMT will support any measure that reduces anti-social behaviour and makes our members' lives safer, but this ban was imposed in haste without consultation with Tube staff.

"We warned that it could put our members at greater risk of assault, but there is no comfort in being proved right when Tube workers have been injured and abused.

"It is no good Tube bosses repeating parrot-fashion that they would not expect staff to put themselves in danger when they have been put in danger by the Mayor's publicity stunt.

"RMT's advice to its members is quite clear: if they believe they are at serious risk they should exercise their right to refuse to work, to take trains out of service or close stations as appropriate, and their union will support them every inch of the way.

"Let us hope that the mayor will learn the lesson and start paying heed to the voices of those who actually go out there and try to operate a service," Bob Crow said.

See also:

Swansong to tube boozing ends in assaults and arrests

Guardian: June 1 2008
Matthew Weaver and agencies

Revellers drink on a Circle line tube train, before the ban on drinking alcohol came into force at midnight, June 1.

Revellers drink on a Circle line tube train, before the ban on drinking alcohol came into force at midnight, June 1. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Police arrested 17 people and closed six London Underground stations after a party to mark the last day of legal drinking on the tube ended in chaotic scenes.

Four train drivers and three other London Underground staff were assaulted, one police vehicle was damaged and two officers assaulted and another injured.

Witnesses said the stench of alcohol on the network was overpowering and that people were "being sick all over the place". Drunken partygoers began fighting and vomiting as the midnight ban on drinking drew nearer.

A spokesman for British Transport police said people were arrested for offences such as assault, drunk and disorderly, assault on police, public order-related offences and drug offences.

He added: "This was an unfortunate end to what should have been a fun event."

Various parties were organised by groups on social networking sites, with titles including "One final tube booze party" and "Let's get hammered on the tube day".

The drinking sessions mainly took place on the orbital Circle line.

They began as light-hearted events ahead of an alcohol ban imposed by the new Conservative London mayor, Boris Johnson.

Photographer Desmond Fitzgerald, 48, from Croydon, said the noise at Gloucester Road station at 11pm yesterday was "like a rowdy football crowd".

He said: "When I got on the train it was worse than rush hour, and with every station it went through more and more heavily-drunk people seemed to be getting on.

"Then a fight broke out between about five people, but because we were so tightly packed in, it soon spread throughout the carriage and I had to struggle to escape to the next one.

"The atmosphere had really changed by this point. People were ripping off adverts and maps and being sick all over the place."

At the start of the evening, partygoers of all ages, many in fancy dress, drank and sang in a boisterous, but friendly atmosphere.

Frankie Abbott, 21, a student from east London, said: "It's going to get a bit messy. There are guys drinking from funnels already."

Superintendent Ellie Bird said: "We have seen numerous examples this evening of the negative impact of alcohol and antisocial behaviour. It is dangerous for those individuals and others.

The mayor said: "I'm determined to improve the safety and security of public transport in London and create a better environment for the millions of Londoners who rely on it. The ban has the full support of the Metropolitan police and British Transport police."

See also:

Drink ban party sparks arrests

Press Association: 1 June 2008

Police arrested 17 people and closed six London Underground stations following chaotic scenes after thousands spent the night partying to mark the last day of drinking on the Tube, British Transport Police has said.

From June 1 an alcohol ban came into effect on the Tube, London buses, Docklands Light Railway and tram services across the capital banning people drinking from - and carrying - open containers of alcohol. The measure was announced earlier this month by new London mayor Boris Johnson.

But a night that started in a celebratory mood soon turned sour as four train drivers and three other London Underground staff were assaulted, one police vehicle was damaged and two officers assaulted and another injured. A spokesman for British Transport Police said 17 people were arrested.