Bus and tram staff in Nottingham are being given a new tool to prevent them being assaulted by spitting.
Hundreds of drivers and conductors on all Nottingham City Transport (NCT) and NET trams now have access to spittle collection kits, with which they can collect the saliva of anti-social passengers who spit at them.
The saliva will be passed to staff at Nottinghamshire Police’s forensic labs, who will obtain the unique DNA signature of assailants. The DNA signature can then be used by the police and Crown Prosecution Service as evidence in court to help obtain the conviction of assailants for common assault.
Posters to publicise the StoPIT scheme, proclaiming ‘Quit the Spit’, are being put up at all bus and tram stops, in bus stations and in NCT buses and trams.
Spittle collection kits, complete with sterilised swabs, latex gloves and evidence bag, are being handed out to all 320 NCT buses and 15 NET trams.
In some cases, analysis of collected DNA could lead to further prosecutions as there is evidence that this type of anti-social crime is often carried out by those with a track record of more serious crime.
Although the number of spitting incidents on public transport is relatively small and has been falling recently, bus and tram staff regard spitting as demeaning and disgusting. Spitting also carries a potential serious health risk to public transport employees and other passengers.
Mick Conroy, branch chairperson of the trade union Unite at NCT, said: “Spitting is one of the most degrading and horrible things that can happen to drivers.
“It’s bad enough when the saliva goes on your clothes, but we have had one driver who was spat at in his face and he developed a serious eye infection.
“So, anything which can bring about the prosecution of these idiots who assault drivers has got to be a good thing.”
Last year, NET recorded eight spitting incidents while NCT recorded 17, a reduction from 42 in 2005. The reduction was due to the installation of protective glass screens in drivers’ compartments.
It is believed that public awareness of the use of the spittle kits will prevent further such incidents, help reduce health risks bus and tram staff and give them confidence that the issue is being taken seriously by their employers.
Magistrate Court and CPS staff are aware of the kits and have endorsed their use as a potential source of evidence in court.
Dr Peter Hulmston, scientific support manager at Nottinghamshire police, said DNA analysis process takes five to ten days.
The analysis includes the submission of a suspect’s DNA signature into the national DNA database. If an assailant’s identity is unknown, the database will provide an identity if the suspect’s DNA is already registered.
Spittle samples – in forensic terms, a ‘crime stain’ - may be viable for analysis for several decades after collection.
“If the swab is frozen, it can be viable for 30, 40 or 50 years provided it is collected well,” said Dr Hulmston.
The StoPIT campaign is backed by the city’s Respect for Transport campaign because the prevention of spitting is regarded as another means of encouraging public transport use in Nottingham. The campaign works to reduce real and perceived levels of crime and anti-social behaviour on the public transport network.
Gary Smerdon-White, of Respect for Transport, said: “It is pleasing to see transport operators, police, the Crown Prosecution Service and Magistrates working together to combat what is a disgusting assault on a public servant.”
Ray Harris, operations manager of NET, said: "We feel these kits will be a very effective tool in cracking down on this particularly unpleasant form of assault."
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