Unprofessional barrier staff?

[Flamingo]

Yes, I understand that action by a Guard or Conductor Flamingo, but I was referring to the comment that someone is being reported.

Admittedly I would assume that reporting will normally only be undertaken by an RPI in most cases and that Conductors / Guards / Train Managers may have safety critical duties to attend to, so will try to avoid being bogged down, but for a inspector, retaining the evidence of 'short-ticket' is an essential part of the reporting process.

Fair enough, if an RPO/I, you can do things us mere mortals can't!

 

[Deerfold]

I was on a train from Doncaster to London once (East Coast). A group of black uniformed men got on and I assumed they were BTP looking for someone or on their way to sort something out, as they were also wearing fluorescents. Nope, they were RPOs.

Makes a change from paramilitaries wearing camouflage I suppose.

 

[tsr]

WRT the earlier comments about police-style uniforms:

I've definitely seen SE staff patrolling an Orpington to Victoria service in what looked like police uniforms but with Southeastern logos across the breast and back where it would normally say "POLICE" or the name of a force. I wouldn't call this "Paramilitary" in the least, though.

But, if these staff were involved in revenue protection duties, I would venture to say that the lay passenger could be quite intimidated.

However, I believe these were Rail Enforcement Officers, whose job description (from the SE website) describes revenue duties as being occasional, such as for special events.

Southern have Rail Neighbourhood Officers who wear uniforms similar to PCSOs - they do seem to conduct fairly regular (but random) ticket checks on trains, and deal with safety/security incidents. However... they don't exactly behave like a paramilitary organisation, either... in fact, they are generally very pleasant and polite, and certainly not what I would call aggressive in their dress or manner.

 

[bb21]

I've been told by my manager to never take a ticket off a passenger if it is invalid, as this is "confrontational".

So now, (on the odd occasion I don't just clip it and walk away, in line with instructions from my manager) I write void on it, and rip it before handing it back

And that's not considered confrontational by your management? The mind truly boggles sometimes. I'd like to get into one of their minds one day and see how it works.

 

[Flamingo]

And that's not considered confrontational by your management? The mind truly boggles sometimes. I'd like to get into one of their minds one day and see how it works.

I didn't say they like me doing that either. Malicious compliance, I believe it's called!

 

[sheff1]

Which TOC actually provides a para-military, or police styled uniform for revenue staff ?

Merseyrail Byelaw Enforcement Officers certainly wear police style clothing which also looks similar to that worn by certain paramilitary personel in some European countries. As the Byelaws include revenue related sections, I would assume they are involved in revenue matters but stand to be corrected.

 

[34D]

I was on a train from Doncaster to London once (East Coast). A group of black uniformed men got on and I assumed they were BTP looking for someone or on their way to sort something out, as they were also wearing fluorescents. Nope, they were RPOs.

Was it necessary to mention their ethnic origin? This is the 21st century you know,

 

[jon0844]

I read that as people in a black uniform.

 

[sheff1]

Was it necessary to mention their ethnic origin? This is the 21st century you know,

I was not aware that uniforms had an ethnic origin.

 

[Flamingo]

Was it necessary to mention their ethnic origin? This is the 21st century you know,

Don't worry, I get the joke

 

[34D]

Then the poster should have said black-clothed.

 

[maniacmartin]

'black' and 'uniformed' would need to be hyphenated if that were the case surely.

 

[Clip]

I think the reason some posters are mentioning them looking like paramilitaries is because their clothing is rather bulky. This is because of the need for them to wear stab vests. For those who know South London and other rough areas, then these are a necessary to keep them as best protected when dealing with the most unsavoury of people.

Unless of course those posters who seem to be intimidated by them would not like them to wear body protection whilst carrying out their duties?

 

[jon0844]

'black' and 'uniformed' would need to be hyphenated if that were the case surely.

Yes, but even though I've not agreed with a lot of what stevefreestone has said on this forum - I don't think he was mentioning skin colour! He was referring to people wearing dark/black uniforms that presumably supported the comments about rail staff looking like police/paramilitaries.

 

[Clip]

'black' and 'uniformed' would need to be hyphenated if that were the case surely.

So it would be fine if they were blue uniformed then?

 

[maniacmartin]

You mean blue-uniformed*

*unless they're smurfs

 

[Clip]

Or Blue Uninformed. Like the Police