A woman has been sentenced by Uxbridge Magistrates Court to a 12-month community order and 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days following the physical assault of two Transport for London Transport, Support and Enforcement Officers in December 2020, who had been deployed to enforce the then legal requirement to wear a face covering on public transport.
Ms Keia Williamson was verbally abusive to staff after being asked to comply with face covering regulations. After TfL uniformed officers refused the individual travel, she proceeded to physically assault them. The officers removed her from the station where she was subsequently arrested by British Transport Police.
The defendant was found guilty of common assault by beating of two TfL enforcement officers and has been sentenced to a 12-month community order and 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days with court costs, victim surcharge and compensation payable to the victims for the total amount of £280. As a result, Ms Williamson now holds a criminal record.
Despite the Government removing the national requirement to wear a face covering on public transport, wearing a face covering on all TfL services and in TfL stations is still required under TfL’s Condition of Carriage for anyone aged 11 and over, unless they are exempt. TfL’s uniformed enforcement officers continue to ask customers to comply with the rules of the network, and anybody who does not comply may be refused entry.
Mandy McGregor, Head of Transport Policing and Community Safety, said: “Our staff have the right to do their job without fear or intimidation and we do not tolerate any violence, aggression or threatening behaviour towards them. This was an appalling act of violence against two members of staff who were simply trying to do their jobs and we’re pleased that the offender has been brought to justice. Body worn video footage continues to provides vital evidence to the police and serves as a powerful deterrent to those who intend on abusing our staff.”
