VICTORIAN Ombudsman George Brouwer has criticised Metro and the Department of Transport for failing to correctly investigate a woman's complaint that she and another train passenger were subjected to unreasonable force by two ticket inspectors.

The woman was threatened with criminal charges after intervening when she saw a male passenger who allegedly did not have a valid ticket being pushed forcefully by two inspectors on a Sydenham train in November.

The woman stepped in to complain after the man was pushed to the ground by two officers at North Melbourne station and dragged along the platform. The officers threatened her with criminal charges for hindering their work.

The man, who remonstrated after inspectors confiscated his ticket, was also pushed into the train wall and into his seat twice ''with considerable force''.