The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) is demanding that Transport for London (TfL) and the government take immediate action to protect transport workers from record levels of violence and aggression. The union is calling for safe staffing levels at all London stations, an end to lone working, increased police presence, and new legislation making it a specific offence to assault a transport worker.
Record Assaults on Transport Workers
According to the latest data from the London Assembly, there were 10,493 reports of work-related violence and aggression towards transport workers in the capital in 2023/24, averaging 200 incidents per week. This includes a 35% increase in incidents against rail staff and an 18.5% rise against bus drivers since 2021. The RMT held a campaign day across the UK to demand an end to the escalating abuse.
In London, union officials report that members are being "punched, spat at, sexually assaulted, verbally harassed, and threatened" on a daily basis. Senior Assistant General Secretary John Leach told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "We have many thousands of members who work within TfL and on the railway. In London, we had a case of one of our members being killed in Ilford - but every day we have members being punched, spat at, sexually assaulted, verbally harassed, threatened - it's worse than its ever been, and TfL don't even deny it."
Union Demands
The RMT is calling on TfL and the government to ensure safe staffing levels, an end to lone working, proper funding for the British Transport Police (BTP) to guarantee their presence across the network, and legislation to make assaulting a transport worker a specific offence, similar to protections introduced for retail workers. Leach added: "We want more funding for protection for us, including more effective policing instead of outsourcing to agencies. We want well trained and well motivated, trained staff to be doing it."
He emphasised that TfL's cost-cutting measures have led to an overreliance on agency security and reduced staffing levels. "Staff make stations safer - and the public agree with us," he said. "It is utterly intolerable that people are being murdered, hospitalised at work. We shouldn't accept it in any sector or job in society - you shouldn't be expected to be the punchbag."
Frontline Worker Testimonies
In February, the London Assembly Transport Committee heard harrowing stories from frontline workers as part of an investigation into assaults on transport staff. Luke Banks, a revenue control officer on the London Underground, was assaulted at King’s Cross Station last year after defending a colleague. He told Assembly Members: "The customer turned on me, shoved us both in the chest and started screaming death threats."
Paul Feakes, a revenue control inspector for London Underground, was punched twice and "dragged across the ticket hall floor" during another incident. One senior frontline staffer told the LDRS that abuse levels have hit record highs following a reduction in the workforce. "TfL have massively cut frontline staff, leading to increasing amounts of unstaffed stations, especially in Zones 3-6," they said. "That has allowed people to stroll onto the network without a ticket, and without a deterrent."
The staffer noted that post-Covid, more opportunists are trying to travel for free, while violence against staff is "through the roof." They added: "We've had broken jaws, eye sockets, brain damage - that used to be super rare even a decade ago, now it's commonplace. We need every station properly staffed and far more visible policing - not only in response but for people to regularly see police [at stations]. Staff also need more legal protections."
TfL Response
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, stated: "Everyone has the right to do their job without fear of being assaulted, abused or threatened, and we have been clear that we will not stand for this behaviour towards our staff while they carry out their essential work to keep London moving."
She acknowledged progress in reducing the most harmful forms of violence but said rising hostility across society means they cannot be complacent. TfL is working with staff, police, operators, and unions to take action, including making body-worn video essential for all frontline staff, improving CCTV, enhancing policing, running communications campaigns, and making interventions to reduce conflict triggers.
