London Underground assaults rise 20% to over 5,500
Mainline passenger assaults reach record high as rail worker attacks also increase.
Trust 70Craft 77Hype 45How this was reported ▾
The central claim is attributed to the ORR, with named union and police officials quoted.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
The article clearly separates fact from comment and provides specific figures, dates, and names.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
The headline is lively but fair, and the article provides substantial detail to support it.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
Assaults against passengers and the public on the London Underground have risen by 20 per cent, with more than 5,500 incidents recorded in the past year. This increase contributes to a wider pattern of escalating violence across the national rail network.
Record high for mainline passenger assaults
Tube passenger assaults rise 20% to 5,534
New figures show a significant increase in attacks on the London Underground network over the past year.
Data from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) shows that assaults on mainline passengers reached a record 13,464 between April 2025 and March 2026. This represents a 36 per cent increase from the previous year and is the highest number since the ORR began collecting this data in 2004. Harassment and common assault accounted for the majority of these incidents.
In contrast to passenger incidents, assaults against rail workers on the London Underground saw a decrease of three per cent, falling to 3,525 incidents. However, on mainline networks, assaults against rail staff increased by 12 per cent, reaching 11,289 incidents. These mainline figures included 6,390 instances of verbal abuse, 2,487 physical assaults, and 2,412 threats.
Calls for increased police funding and action
Central, Piccadilly lines face weekend closures
Engineering works will disrupt travel across multiple London Underground lines this weekend.
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) union has called for greater funding for the British Transport Police (BTP) to address the rise in violence. Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of TSSA, stated that the transport budget must be restored and increased to provide the railway with adequate resources. She also urged train operating companies to end lone working practices that leave staff vulnerable and to consider banning individuals who commit acts of violence from the transport network.
British Transport Police assistant chief constable Ian Drummond-Smith confirmed that officers are actively working to identify and prosecute offenders through high-visibility patrols and intelligence-led operations. He also highlighted the effectiveness of body-worn video (BWV) for frontline rail workers, noting that it leads to offender justice in approximately 85 per cent of incidents where recording is used.
The rail regulator, the ORR, described the figures as 'concerning'. Chief inspector of railways Richard Hines stated that no one on the railway should experience violence or abuse. The ORR is collaborating with industry partners and trade unions to tackle work-related violence and harassment, providing guidance to rail employers on risk assessment and control measures. Inspectors will continue to monitor how these risks are managed.
Mark Phillips, chief executive of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), emphasised the need for a change in public behaviour and increased respect for railway staff. He noted that while the rail industry is taking action to protect staff, the latest figures highlight the necessity for improved public conduct.
Government investment in transport policing
A Department for Transport spokesperson acknowledged the rise in assaults as 'deeply concerning and completely unacceptable'. The Government plans to increase funding for the British Transport Police by £63 million by 2028/29, which is expected to support the recruitment of over 200 additional officers. Further investments are planned for enhanced station CCTV, wider use of body-worn video, and new measures to identify and ban repeat offenders from the railway network.
The BTP advises anyone who witnesses violence or abuse on the railway to report it by texting 61016 or calling 999 in an emergency.
Questions this report answers
+How many assaults were reported on the London Underground in the last year?
More than 5,500 assaults on passengers and the public were reported on the London Underground in the past year. This represents a 20 per cent increase compared to the previous year's figures.
+What is the latest figure for assaults on mainline passengers?
Mainline passenger assaults reached a record high of 13,464 incidents between April 2025 and March 2026. This is a 36 per cent rise from the previous year and the highest recorded since 2004.
+What funding is being provided to the British Transport Police?
The Government has announced an increase of £63 million in British Transport Police funding by 2028/29. This funding is intended to support the recruitment of over 200 additional officers.
+How can I report violence or abuse on the railway?
If you witness violence or abuse on the railway, you can report it to the British Transport Police by texting 61016. In an emergency, you should call 999.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
More Coverage in Tube & Rail
Tube passenger assaults rise 20% to 5,534
Central, Piccadilly lines face weekend closures
New Piccadilly line trains unveiled at Berlin exhibition
