A staff member was hit on the head with a bottle during this assault

Launching a two-month campaign, BTP said rail staff will now be viewed as public servants.

About 37% of all assaults on staff - nearly 300 cases - are racially or religiously motivated, police said.

An extra 375 police community support officers (PCSO) will also be deployed on public transport, it was announced.

'Real crime'

The BTP campaign, Operation Lockstock, is supported by the London Criminal Justice Board (CJB) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnston said: "People should be able to go to work without fear of being assaulted, spat at or abused."

Officers will carry Spit Kits to detect offenders by their DNA

"Some people think it is just an occupational hazard. Staff assault is a real crime," he said.

Officers will be deployed to the scene as soon as the control room is alerted of an assault and the perpetrator will be arrested, irrespective of whether the staff member suffered injuries.

They will be equipped with 'Spit Kits' to collect DNA samples when staff have been spat at.

In the past 10 months 363 DNA samples were collected, of which 136 were from staff assaults. Police identified offenders in 76 of those cases, Supt Steve Hale, who is leading the operation, said.

'Getting tough'

Sniffer dogs and metal detectors will also be used by officers to look for hidden weapons.

Launching the operation, Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "This campaign is a big step towards reducing crime and anti-social behaviour on our Tube and trains and getting tough on those who resort to racist abuse or attacks on transport staff."

Police will be supported by teams of up to 18 PCSOs deployed to each of the 21 outer London boroughs between February and July 2007.

They will patrol anti-social behaviour hotspots including bus stops, schools and transport hubs, said Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police.

Police also released CCTV images and appealed for information about an assault on a staff member who sustained serious injuries when he was hit on the head with a wine bottle by a drunk man at Balham railway station on 6 November last year.

The victim tried to stop the offender from hanging on the side of the train by grabbing an open window.