{"id":80502,"date":"2026-06-09T09:21:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T09:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/80502\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T09:21:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T09:21:09","slug":"transport-security-officers-spat-at-and-abused","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/80502\/","title":{"rendered":"Transport security officers ‘spat at and abused’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Security officers who have begun patrolling trams and buses in Nottingham and the surrounding areas say they have been racially abused, spat at, and even threatened with being stabbed.<\/p>\n

The five-strong team has been hired from Nottingham-based Octavian Security to deter trouble and make passengers feel safer.<\/p>\n

They are acting as “eyes and ears<\/a>” on the travel network and will tackle anti-social behaviour, such as loud music and smoking, or children obstructing them.<\/p>\n

A senior police officer said he was appalled the SafeTravel officers had been targeted, adding the force would work with transport companies to identify those responsible.<\/p>\n

Ibrahim Jalloh told the BBC that his team, which started patrolling the travel network three weeks ago, was targeted after telling a passenger he was not allowed to eat his fish and chips on the tram.<\/p>\n

“He told me ‘I will stab you’, that’s what he said first, then he starts spitting on us… it’s horrible for someone to spit on you,” he said.<\/p>\n

His colleague, Danial Avia, added the man had also threatened to call other people to come and fight the officers.<\/p>\n

He said: “We are trying to tell them what to do, and what we are doing… they are fighting back.”<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

The SafeTravel officers patrol trams and buses every afternoon and evening [BBC]<\/p>\n

Their three colleagues – who are originally from West Africa and Pakistan – also said they had been racially abused by passengers they had confronted.<\/p>\n

Faris Javed said he applied for the security job after completing a master’s degree in information technology at the University of Derby.<\/p>\n

“The good thing is the UK has good laws and rules people need to follow,” he added.<\/p>\n

“Mostly I faced racist comments.”<\/p>\n

\"Faris<\/p>\n

Faris Javed applied for the job after completing a master’s degree at the University of Derby [BBC]<\/p>\n

Supt Chris Pearson, from Nottinghamshire Police, said the assaults and threats directed at the new officers were “appalling”.<\/p>\n

He added: “What it does is show exactly what members of the public have been enduring on our transport network.<\/p>\n

“I’m very clear that we are working together with NET [Nottingham Express Transit] trams and Nottingham City Transport to identify who those individuals are and we will take appropriate action.”<\/p>\n

\"Supt<\/p>\n

Supt Chris Pearson said he was appalled that the officers had been targeted [BBC]<\/p>\n

East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, whose office funded the year-long pilot, said the abuse against the new staff showed why it was important to gather evidence against troublemakers.<\/p>\n

“We need to say we want a zero crime, zero anti-social behaviour approach here in the city,” she added.<\/p>\n

“We know that if they’re capturing this information they can then take that back into policing.<\/p>\n

“And they can then start to look for those people to apprehend them in the future if they aren’t able to catch them at that moment.”<\/p>\n

\"Five<\/p>\n

The officers spoke to Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward at a launch event on Friday [BBC]<\/p>\n

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds<\/a> and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook<\/a>, on X<\/a>, or on Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk<\/a> or via WhatsApp<\/a> on 0808 100 2210.<\/p>\n

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