Escalating Incidents: NS Employees Confront Rising Violence and Aggression

NS staff encountering heightened aggression and violence; Reports surge by 8% In the past year, NS employees recorded 1,042 instances of violence directed at them, marking an 8 percent increase from 2022, as confirmed by the rail company to NOS. NS resorted to seeking police assistance over 13,000 times in 2023.

According to NS, the reported incidents represent merely a fraction of the actual occurrences. Only incidents falling under the A category, encompassing offenses under criminal law such as threats, spitting, and physical assaults, are officially documented. "Verbal abuse" is excluded from these figures, clarified an NS spokesperson speaking to NOS, although it remains unfortunately prevalent.

This escalation in violence against NS workers marks the third consecutive year of increase, with 661 reported incidents in 2020. Fare evasion poses a significant challenge, according to NS. The company also cited issues related to "asylum seekers, rising cases of disturbed individuals, and a general societal harshness."

NS emphasized its implementation of additional measures to address the violence.