From the Bristol Evening Post
Violent attacks on the region's railway workers have increased by nearly 50 per cent in the past five years - despite DNA kits now in use to catch offenders.Rail operator First Great Western introduced the kits in 2004 to help convict passengers who spit at staff.
One transport campaigner said he believed the rise in violent incidents could be linked to passenger frustration at the quality of services.
According to British Transport Police figures, obtained by the Conservative Party, there has been a steep increase in attacks on services across the west and Wales.
In 2001, the figure stood at 115. But in the year 2005-06, the number of assaults soared to 207.
Incidents in which passengers and staff members have been subjected to threats on broken-down trains in the region have also increased. In 2001 the number of threats recorded was 96, and this rose to 220 in 2004-05. The figure for 2005-06 fell to 197.
British Transport Police has also recorded a rise in incidents of passengers being drunk and disorderly on trains. In the West and Wales last year, there were 29 incidents - up on the 2001 figure of 23.
The number of cases peaked in 2004-05 when there were 40.
But the number of British Transport Police officers assaulted on broken-down trains in the region fell. In 2001-02, 46 such incidents were recorded, compared to 43 in 2005-06.
Tony Ambrose, of the Bristol rail user protest group More Train Less Strain, said: "It's understandable that people lose their tempers when they try to get home and find trains have been cancelled or they have to spend an hour-and-a-half standing on a train back from London.
"Violence is not a good idea and it doesn't help at all, but it seems the platform staff are suffering because of FGW's inability to organise a train franchise. I have seen a lot of aggression in people travelling home on trains late at night."
Conservative transport spokesman Owen Paterson said: "What these figures show is that in many parts of the country the situation is getting worse, not better, despite the increase in the number of British Transport Police officers.
"I am particularly concerned about the increase in the number of crimes involving drunk and disorderly passengers, as I'm worried the situation could be made worse by the way the Government has implemented changes to licensing laws to allow 24-hour drinking."
A First Great Western spokesman said: "While we cannot comment on claims made by political parties, we can confirm there is an annual pattern of drink-related incidents and assaults on board our trains.
"We work closely with the British Transport Police to improve the safety of our customers at stations and on trains. Recent initiatives include security screening machines and improved CCTV and station staffing."