Crime on the London Underground has soared by almost 40% compared to pre-pandemic levels, despite there being 18% fewer passengers.
Fare dodging has also hit record highs, TfL crime data reveals, with 10,420 crimes recorded on the network between last December and this May.
Crime hotspots for robbery include well-known stations like Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Finsbury Park and Stratford.
The increase in crime has been fuelled by a four-fold hike in robbery and a 68% increase in thefts.
Fare evasion is linked to half of work-related violence and aggressions incidents suffered by London Underground staff.
Wide gates for passengers with pushchairs and disabled passengers are gates easily forced open by fare dodgers.
The data also shows there were 9,329 crimes reported on TfL’s bus network – up 19%.
The London boroughs of Westminster, Lambeth and Haringey were the worst for robberies on buses.
They accounted for a fifth of all reported bus robberies in the capital, with teenage boys accounting for half of all bus robbery victims.
On London Overground, 776 crimes were reported, 623 were reported on the Elizabeth line, 422 on the DLR and 158 on the Croydon tram.
Susan Hall, City Hall Conservatives police and crime spokesperson and frontrunner to become the party’s London mayoral candidate, said: ‘Londoners will be absolutely appalled to hear that crime on the London Underground has risen by 39%.
‘In Sadiq Khan’s London, crime on TfL’s network has spiralled out of control. He must work with the British Transport Police to ensure that travelling on public transport comes without the risk of being mugged or threatened.’
Around 8% of respondents to a TfL passenger survey confirmed they had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour on the network and 4% said they had seen a crime committed.
A third of passengers felt worried on the network and 6% no longer used London’s public transport because of an incident.
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, policing and enforcement, said: ‘We have been actively promoting the importance of reporting crime, especially crimes that are underreported such as hate crime, sexual offences and harassment, and workplace violence and aggression, which has contributed to the increase in recorded crime figures.
‘We are seeing an increase in robbery and theft offences which reflect London-wide and national trends. We will continue to work closely with the police to ensure that our transport network remain a safe environment to work and travel.’
(UK Metro)
