A trade union has suggested that railway staff could be be placed in danger if ticket offices in England are closed.

The TSSA – the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association – has said that workers could face serious safety issues if the UK government proceeds with its plans.

It has urged the public to engage in the government’s consultation ahead of its closure on Friday, saying that people must demand that ticket offices remain open.

The union represents people working in the transport and travel industries and their warning comes following an attempted assault at Maze Hill station in London on Thursday 24 August.

An unnamed female staff member was intimidated by a drunken male who tried to spit at staff in the ticket office.

The report into the incident says ‘the male proceeded to stare at the female member of staff and when asked to stop he began spitting on the ticket office window.

The staff member backed away from the window at which point the male began verbally abusing them and passing passengers’.

Spitting at staff, while unacceptable, can lead to tragic circumstances. A TSSA member working at Victoria station in London was coughed at and spat upon by a member of the public.

Belly Mujinga became one of the first front-line workers to die as a result of coronavirus and feared that this was the way she caught the deadly virus.

Mrs Mujinga, 47, had underlying health conditions and died on 5 April 2020, leaving behind her husband and young daughter.

TSSA President Melissa Heywood, said: “We will not accept a situation in which our members are put at risk because of the Conservative government’s cost cutting measures.

“It is clear from the incidents of abuse against station staff that have been reported to us that ticket offices help make our members safer. We cannot allow what happened to Belly Mujinga to happen again, and closing ticket offices increases the likelihood of station staff facing similar incidents of abuse.

“I am concerned about reports of abuse taking place at Maze Hill station, I dread to think what would have happened had the staff not been behind a window. Ticket offices have a role to play in protecting station staff, particularly those who are vulnerable or working alone.”