Railway station kiosk staff in Kouvola report abuse and theft

Staff at the R-kiosk at Kouvola railway station say they face regular verbal abuse, theft, and aggressive behaviour from groups of minors, Yle reports.

Kirsi Keskinen, a supervisor at the kiosk, said the problems worsen in autumn and winter, when dozens of young people gather in the station’s heated concourse. She described incidents where cannabis smoke drifts into the kiosk from the hall, and where purchased food has been thrown against walls. Some minors insult staff over their age or appearance.

On Tuesday, representatives from Kouvola city, national rail operator VR, police, and other agencies met to address the issue. All agreed action is needed, with the kiosk proposing the hire of a security guard, at least for the winter months. Laura Sillanpää, Kouvola’s coordinator for preventive substance abuse and mental health work, confirmed that hiring a guard was discussed, though funding remains unclear.

The working group will reconvene in autumn to continue discussions on station safety.