Train operator NS has begun equipping its conductors with bodycams in the hope of deterring aggression against its staff.

A trial scheme found that the cameras helped to de-escalate potentially violent situations and helped conductors feel safer on board. The images can also be used as evidence against alleged offenders in a police investigation.

“The bodycams won’t prevent the worst cases of aggression, but they will raise the bar for aggressive behaviour towards us,” one senior conductor, Jelger, told NOS.

Conductors can switch on the camera’s recording facility if they find themselves in a threatening situation. The camera will automatically store the 60 seconds of footage before the button was pressed so that the incident is recorded in context.

The infrastructure minstry has spent €12 million on funding the scheme.

NS plans to issue bodycams to all 3,500 conductors by the end of the year. All footage that is not used for investigations will be automatically deleted after 28 days to comply with privacy legislation.