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A campaign to encourage public transport workers and passengers to report hate crimes and aggressive incidents has been launched in Bristol.

A spokesman from an anti-racism group said it was not unusual for some taxi and bus drivers and train staff to suffer racist abuse.

The initiative is being carried out by the police, Safer Bristol and Support Against Racist Incidents (Sari).

The organisations will be working with major public transport providers.

A spokesman from Bristol's Taxi Club Association told BBC Radio Bristol earlier that the city's taxi, bus and train drivers must be better protected from race attacks and other hate crimes.

'Totally unacceptable'

Gary Hopkins, Bristol City Council's cabinet member for strategic targeted improvement, said: "Public transport providers can sometimes find themselves in challenging situations when having to deal with difficult and confrontational passengers.

"This is totally unacceptable and Safer Bristol, the police, First Bus, British Transport Police and Sari have combined to tackle it and to urge public transport staff not to accept it but to report any incident."

Alex Raikes, from Sari, advised people to call 999 if faced with violent incidents, and to contact the police or the organisation if they are not in danger.

Posters, leaflets and letters are being sent to taxi firms and will also be made available by bus and train companies.