SIPTU representatives have welcomed the announcement that recruitment for a new transport policing service could begin in 2026 but warned that inclusion of a social care element will be crucial to the success of the new force in dealing with issues on the public transport network.
SIPTU Transport Sector Organiser, John Murphy, said: “SIPTU representatives are central to discussions on the much needed new transport policing service which was the key demand of our Respect Transport Workers campaign launched in February 2024. We are very pleased that the Government seems to have taken on board many of the proposals contained in our ‘Travel Safe’ policy document on this issue and will seek to establish a force with powers of arrest and detention similar to the current Airport Police.
“However, in our proposals, which draw upon best international practice, we also call for the creation of Public Transport Assistance Units. These are specifically trained social care intervention officers to deal with those causing a public disturbance on the transport network but who are more applicable for intervention in relation to underlying issues, such as substance abuse and homelessness, rather than within a purely legal framework.”
SIPTU National Executive Council member and Dublin Bus worker, Stephen Millane, said: “While security and enforcement are crucial, it is essential that a transport policing force is more than just a uniformed deterrent. The social care dimension must be embedded in the structure from the start. Our members are encountering more cases of vulnerable individuals in crisis, and without the right services in place, transport staff are being asked to handle situations they are neither trained for nor equipped to manage.”
SIPTU National Executive Council member and Irish Rail worker, Tommy Wynne, said: “We see it every day. Our buses and trains are becoming spaces where people with complex needs end up because they have nowhere else to go. As well as a force to ensure that the increasing incidents of violence and abuse on our public transport network are effectively tackled we need a compassionate response that recognises the role transport plays in wider society.”
He added: “Our members welcome the great progress their efforts, through the Respect Transport Workers campaign, has played on putting the creation of a transport policing service high on the political agenda. However, our approach is not just about policing anti-social behaviour. It’s about creating a safer and more inclusive environment for passengers and transport workers so we can increase the use of public transport into the future.”