This month, during Respect Our Workforce Week, Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne visited Roadways, UK experts in civil engineering, groundworks and road resurfacing.
The organisation leads on many projects in Sussex including: highway construction; traffic management; groundworks; and town centre improvements. Roadways work closely with National Highways and Local Authorities across the county road networks and their skilled and experienced teams makes our roads safer.
Roadways have reported that since January 2025, 48 members of staff have been victims of abuse ranging from verbal assaults to physical and dangerous violence.
During the meeting, the team discussed with the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner the distressing impact of abuse on workers and how they work with the police to report the crimes.
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “We know that delays on our roads can cause frustration but it is completely unacceptable for road workers to face abuse for simply doing their jobs and improving the conditions of our busy road networks.
“Last year, I was delighted to launch a campaign with waste management company Veolia called SiteKind which focused on a similar matter of abuse towards their workforce.
“The campaign has led to much better engagement for their staff with Sussex Police and some great results, with less incidents of abuse. I now look forward to Roadways having the same success and an improved partnership-working approach with Sussex Police to achieve this. Whether its road workers, refuse collectors, retail staff or emergency service staff – no one should feel unsafe at work.
A representative from Roadways said: "Highway workers are not just part of the scenery on our roads—they are dedicated to making travel safer and smoother for everyone.
!These skilled professionals work tirelessly in challenging conditions to repair, maintain, and improve our roads. Their efforts reduce accidents, prevent damage to vehicles, and ensure journeys are efficient and secure. By respecting their work zones and understanding their vital role, we can all contribute to a safer environment.
