Deutsche Bahn equips 2,000 long-distance rail employees with body cameras

Expansion from regional to long-distance rail

As justification, Deutsche Bahn stated that body cameras help both passengers and employees feel equally safe on long-distance trains. It further stated: „Sie haben eine präventive Wirkung und dienen der Abwehr und Reduktion von Gewalttaten sowie der Beweissicherung." The camera recordings are intended to act as a deterrent and, in serious cases, serve as evidence.

According to the group, the action plan for greater safety on the rails contains several components. In addition to the body camera equipment, it provides for the hiring of 200 additional security personnel. This is intended to supplement the presence of security staff on trains and onboard.

Components of the action plan

Another component is the further development of a so-called emergency call button. With this device, employees in dangerous situations can already alert the control center discreetly. According to group sources, the technical upgrade is intended to work faster and more reliably in the future.

Deutsche Bahn described the security package as a response to a series of incidents in which train personnel had been physically attacked in contact with passengers. The fatal attack on a train attendant on a regional train in February had further intensified the debate about the safety of onboard staff.

Voluntariness and data protection

The unions had repeatedly demanded better protection for employees in local and long-distance rail in the run-up. Deutsche Bahn emphasized that the body cameras would be worn exclusively on a voluntary basis. Employees could decide for themselves whether or not to activate the camera.

The measure is intended to enable staff to better document assaults by passengers. Employee safety is to be increased as a result. At the same time, the group pointed to the preventive character of the visibly worn cameras.

In the medium term, the federally owned company plans to evaluate the experience from long-distance rail for other areas as well. If the use of body cameras proves successful, their deployment could be expanded to other employee groups with customer contact.

According to Deutsche Bahn, passengers need not fear any impairment from the measure. The cameras only record what happens in acute conflict situations, not normal travel operations, the company stated. The aim is to keep the intrusion into privacy as minimal as possible.