30 August 2006
DNA kits issued to Subway staff
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has issued DNA swab testing kits to every member of its Subway workforce to help them fight back against spitting passengers.
SPT has invested in 300 swab kits which enable staff who have been spat at by passengers to take samples of the saliva. These samples will then be passed on to Strathclyde Police where they will be analysed and checked against a DNA database which could help identify the offender.
Each member of the Subway staff has been issued with their own kit and spare kits are also stored at each of the Glasgow Subway stations.
SPT's Customer and Commercial Officer for the Subway, Ron Hamilton said, "Although instances of spitting at staff are rare, unfortunately they do occur. By issuing these kits to our staff, we hope those who behave in such an unacceptable manner will think twice about it when they realise we now have the means to catch them."
"Knowing these kits have proved to be a successful deterent for other public transport operators, we decided to do the same as we are keen to reinforce to the minority of passengers, who engage in this type of action, that we will not tolerate such behaviour.
"We are determined that our hard-working Subway staff should not have to put up with being assaulted in any way."
Chief Inspector Alick Irvine - Crime Prevention Officer for Strathclyde Police - added, "If any member of the Subway staff is subjected to a spitting attack, the DNA pack will allow police an additional line of enquiry to track down offenders.
"It provides us with another opportunity to identify the individual and report them to the procurator fiscal. Spitting is a form of assault and offenders could face prosecution. I hope this will deter anyone from this type of behaviour as there is now much more chance they will get caught.
ends