Hospitals and railway stations should play classical music to calm the public and reduce attacks on staff, a report says.

The recommendation follows new figures that estimate around 400 public sector workers are assaulted each week. The report, by the Greater London Authority Conservatives, warned that 65,970 staff – including nurses, bus drivers and station attendants – have been attacked on duty in the past three years.

Classical music could improve people’s behaviour, the report suggests, as it creates “a calming effect by releasing pleasure-inducing dopamine and inhibiting the release of stress hormones”.

Report co-author Roger Evans told The Independent: “The music suggestion is about creating an ambience where the potential of an attack occurring in the first place is significantly reduced.”