Figures Show Rise In Tube Violence

The number of cases of violence against individuals on the Tube rose last year.

But rates of overall crime on the UK capital's public transport systems fell in 2012/13 to record low levels, police figures today showed.

There were 1,897 instances of violence against the person on the Tube and on Docklands Light Railway in 2012/13 compared with 1,792 in 2011/12,

Cases of theft of passenger property also rose - from 6,021 in 2011/12 to 7,282 in 2012/13.

But taking in all London public transport, including buses and the main line London Overground services, there were just 8.9 crimes per one million passenger journeys in 2012/13.

This is the lowest annual figure and compared with 9.4 crimes per one million passenger journeys in 2011/12.

From the Met Police and British Transport Police, the statistics showed that across the whole London transport network, robbery dropped by 17.6%, criminal damage was down 15.7% and violence against individuals reduced by 6.8% with 527 fewer offences.

On the buses, there were 8.6 crimes per million passenger journeys in 2012/13 - down from 9.3 in 2011/12 and less than half of what it was in 2005/06 when levels peaked and the rate was 21.6 crimes per million passenger journeys.

Crime on London Overground rose 18.3% in 2012/13 but there were only 6.7 crimes per one million passenger journeys.

Transport for London's community, safety and enforcement and policing acting director Siwan Hayward said:

"Our transport network continues to be a safe, low crime environment.

"Despite this we are not complacent and are putting in measures to effectively deal with the rise in theft on some modes of the network."