Reliance works with many UK leading transport, logistics, and distribution businesses. Employees from this sector face the risk of violence on a daily basis and those working alone have a heightened susceptibility to these risks.

A recent survey by the International Road Transport Union shows one in six truck drivers has been attacked in the past five years. There is a rise, for instance, in thieves targeting lorries carrying nickel and copper. Items like alcohol, cigarettes, computers, branded clothing and prescription drugs are also high on the criminals' list.

According to the HSE, the number of drivers assaulted on buses rose last year from 866 to 998 proving that the use of CCTV is not deterring offenders. CCTV is unable to capture audio and is often poor in quality.

The British Transport Police report that train, tube and tram drivers receive verbal, racial and physical threats from abusive and disgruntled customers on a daily basis. Those station personnel who handle cash are potential targets for theft, and are especially vulnerable when they are away from the secure counters. 3000 reports of assaults on transport staff were reported with 8% requiring an absence from work.

Who’s at risk?

• Taxi Drivers – Receive verbal, racial, physical threats and abuse on a daily basis. Risks increase when working late at night when incidents are fuelled by alcohol and drugs.
• Freight Drivers – Risk of violent crime including robbery and kidnap because of the often high-value goods that they transport.
• Bus Drivers – Drivers are especially vulnerable to verbal and physical assault, which is heightened when operating late at night. Crimes such as robbery, attack by firearm, knife or explosives such as fireworks as well as aggressive from youths are just some of the incidents that that drivers have been subject to.
• Train and Tram Staff – Abuse from disgruntled customers especially over ticket disputes. Alcohol exacerbates situations and increases incidences of assault.

Reliance Protect Benefits

• Reliance Protect devices are worn about the person and therefore providing ability to raise the alarm discreetly with operators at the Reliance Monitoring Centre instigating a rapid and appropriate response using GPS and LBS to locate the driver. Vehicle tracking can locate the truck or bus but not the driver, who could have been kidnapped or away from the vehicle dealing with an incident.
• The open voice channel created when an alarm is raised is recorded, capturing incidents of verbal and racial abuse.
• The recording offers evidence that protects the worker from receiving accusations of misconduct from abusive persons.
• Within the bus environment, the audio capture from Reliance Protect can support the CCTV footage.
• Reliance Protect provides a physical deterrent to those contemplating committing an act of violence in the first instance.
• GSM technology incorporated into the units enables Reliance Protect to operate whether indoors or outdoors, fixed site working or mobile based working.
• Reliance Protect devices can be pooled between lone working staff to provide a cost effective solution per vehicle, per shift, per department.