The forceful intervention of inspectors in a Szczecin bus took place on July 27. A recording published on the internet shows an exchange of words and a scuffle between a passenger who allegedly did not have a ticket and two inspectors. The Road and Public Transport Authority has already issued a statement on the matter, informing that the whole matter is being investigated. In the meantime, “even more detailed procedures” are to be introduced.
The incident occurred on July 27 on a public transport bus on line 811 near Kościuszki Square in Szczecin. The recording, which has been circulating online for several days, shows two men who are ticket inspectors not wanting to let a third one pass, who was riding “as a stowaway”. At one point, the passenger, raising his voice, starts saying something to the person checking the ticket. At the same time, the man standing closer grabbed the stowaway and started to pull him towards himself. The recording shows the exchange of words: – Man, you attacked me. – I attacked you?! – the passenger shouts. After a short exchange of words, you can see that the man without a ticket tries to move to the nearby seats, but is stopped by the second inspector.
In the next part of the recording, you can see that the person recording the whole situation is already standing outside and watching the whole event from the side. The video shows the passenger trying to open the closed door, where one of the inspectors is standing. During the scuffle between the three men, the man trying to escape lies on the ground, and his leg is pinned by the bus door. You can also hear the man crying for help. “Let me go!” the passenger screams. Witnesses come to his defense.
Statement of ZDiTM
Kacper Reszczyński, spokesman for the Roads and Public Transport Authority in Szczecin, sent a statement on the matter.
“The inspectors involved in the incident provided extensive explanations, which indicate that the passenger did not have a ticket and did not show any ID. When the inspectors tried to prevent him from leaving the vehicle in accordance with the procedure, the man began to threaten them with violence. The inspectors' reaction will be the subject of further detailed analysis. It should also be emphasized that the film posted online does not present the entire situation and is a patchwork of shots edited by the author,” we read.
Reszczyński informed that even more detailed procedures will be developed and introduced in the near future, taking into account various scenarios and situations involving passengers and inspectors that may occur in public transport vehicles.
The inspectors are to take part in additional training, including in the field of responding to crisis situations, and will be equipped with cameras that will record the course of passenger inspections.
Aspirant Paweł Pankau, press officer of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Szczecin, reported that the man captured on the recording did not file any report, and the police patrol was not called to the scene. – In the above case, however, a report was filed regarding the release of a recording with images of people without their consent. Actions are ongoing – he said.
The matter was also commented on by the deputy mayor of Szczecin, Łukasz Kadłubowski, who informed via social media that a meeting had been convened with representatives of the Roads and Public Transport Authority and the Municipal Economy Department to clarify the whole situation.
The incident took place in a bus from Szczecin.They are standing in Szczecin
A man tried to escape from the inspectorsThey are standing in Stargard
Main image source: They are standing in Stargard