Progress on public transport police unit

(CS/dho) Progress is being made on the introduction of a special public transport police unit after a significant increase in the number of violent incidents.

Rail worker union Syprolux has for several years been requesting a police unit to combat violence against public transport staff, with incidents having increased by 18 percent between 2013 and 2014.

Infrastructure Minister François Bausch has now pledged to work on launching a pilot project together with Interior Security Minister Etienne Schneider.

Syprolux has said that it would be interested to cooperate on the project. Similar special units are already in place in other countries, the union said, explaining that this was the only way to ensure the safety of staff and passengers.

Only two weeks ago a train conductor was beaten up by a man who had crossed the tracks on foot. The female member of staff wanted to take down the man's details when he punched her and then continued beating her. Passersby who intervened were also injured in the altercation.