A braking system for braking a movable member, comprising: a braking element having an operative braking position in which it applies a braking force to the movable member, and an inoperative position in which the braking force is released; and an electro-magnetic device, the electro-magnetic force of which is arranged to act on the braking element to switch it between the operative and inoperative positions; wherein the electro-magnetic device comprises: one or more active elements which are energisable by a transient pulse of electrical current to switch the braking element from the operative braking position to the inoperative position and from the inoperative position to the operative braking position; and one or more passive elements (54, 56) which maintain the braking element in the operative braking position and in the inoperative position, after the transient pulse has been removed from the active element or elements, characterised in that the one or more passive elements (54, 56) include a soft permanent or semi-permanent magnet, the magnetic polarity of which is switchable by applying the transient pulse to one or more of the active elements, and a hard permanent magnet, wherein the magnetic polarity of the soft magnet is switchable by the transient pulse between a state of alignment with and a state of opposition to the magnetic polarity of the hard magnet. a braking element having an operative braking position in which it applies a braking force to the movable member, and an inoperative position in which the braking force is released; and an electro-magnetic device, the electro-magnetic force of which is arranged to act on the braking element to switch it between the operative and inoperative positions; wherein the electro-magnetic device comprises: one or more active elements which are energisable by a transient pulse of electrical current to switch the braking element from the operative braking position to the inoperative position and from the inoperative position to the operative braking position; and one or more passive elements (54, 56) which maintain the braking element in the operative braking position and in the inoperative position, after the transient pulse has been removed from the active element or elements, characterised in that the one or more passive elements (54, 56) include a soft permanent or semi-permanent magnet, the magnetic polarity of which is switchable by applying the transient pulse to one or more of the active elements, and a hard permanent magnet, wherein the magnetic polarity of the soft magnet is switchable by the transient pulse between a state of alignment with and a state of opposition to the magnetic polarity of the hard magnet. one or more active elements which are energisable by a transient pulse of electrical current to switch the braking element from the operative braking position to the inoperative position and from the inoperative position to the operative braking position; and one or more passive elements (54, 56) which maintain the braking element in the operative braking position and in the inoperative position, after the transient pulse has been removed from the active element or elements, characterised in that the one or more passive elements (54, 56) include a soft permanent or semi-permanent magnet, the magnetic polarity of which is switchable by applying the transient pulse to one or more of the active elements, and a hard permanent magnet, wherein the magnetic polarity of the soft magnet is switchable by the transient pulse between a state of alignment with and a state of opposition to the magnetic polarity of the hard magnet.