RECENTLY, three railway station staff were assaulted at Bournemouth station while carrying out their duties on the platform. The assaults, both verbal and physical, included being spat at, scratched and bitten.

Public service workers like station and on-board train staff, bus drivers, ambulance/fire crews deserve to be able to work without fear of assault.

While serving the general public 24/7, these workers are providing essential frontline services for the benefit of society as a whole.

Employers, police and the CPS need to send a clear message that assaults will not be tolerated on these workers, and that all cases will be brought before the courts.

The courts need to recognise that attacks against public service workers are an attack on the smooth running of society itself and sentencing guidelines should reflect this.

Recently, a man was jailed for 18 months for attacking a judge in Ipswich Crown Court; assaults on public service workers should be punished in a similar manner.

Assaults do not “come with the job”, and long after the physical wounds have healed, staff may continue to experience psychological trauma.

A civilised society should condemn such incidents in the strongest possible terms.

JULIAN MORISON, train driver, Poole.