Woman sought after racist attack on female worker

12:35pm Tuesday 15th July 2008

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British Transport Police (BTP) has released CCTV images today of a woman wanted in connection with a racial assault at Clapham Junction train station.

On May 23 a female member of staff at the ticket barriers asked to see the women's rail ticket. The employee was then racially abused and punched in the stomach.

The release of the image comes as BTP concluded a two-month operation targeting individuals who abuse, threat or assault members of rail staff across the south of England.

BTP Superintendent Martin Fry said police at railway stations in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and south London conducted a series of high visibility patrols and supported revenue operations throughout April and June.

"In that time there were 110 staff assault incidents reported to us, more than one a day across the area," he said.

During the same period in 2007 there were 125 incidents of staff assault.

advertisementSupt Fry said: "While there has been a drop in the number of incidents, the fact that staff are being spat at, punched and threatened by members of the public is appalling.

"These incidents are occurring from the early hours of the morning and into the night and can involve the entire spectrum of passengers from youths through to well-dressed adults in business attire who should really know better."

Anyone who can identify the woman in the image should contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40 quoting incident number 88 of 23/5/2008.