I am writing to you in order to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would like to know: A) The total number of reported incidents of physical and verbal abuse towards male TfL staff members on the London Underground, for each year from 2010-2019 (i.e. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). B) The total number of reported incidents of physical and verbal abuse towards female TfL staff members on the London Underground, for each year from 2010-2019 (i.e. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019). I would also like to request that the information is sent back in an Excel spreadsheet. Please send confirmation of receipt of this request and I look forward to hearing back within 20 working days.

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Our Ref:         FOI-3105-1920

Thank you for your request received on 15 January 2020 asking for information about reported abuses towards TfL staff.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.

Our staff work hard to serve the millions of customers who use our network every day and have the right to go about their work without fear or intimidation. TfL takes workplace violence extremely seriously and we always encourage staff to report any instance of abuse whether physical or non-physical so that preventative measures can be taken, and the strongest penalties brought against offenders.

We have a specialist unit within TfL working with both the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and British Transport Police (BTP) police services to investigating crimes against staff. This Workplace Violence and Aggression Team support staff and their managers, and assists the Police in the investigation of physical assault and verbal aggression against our staff, which can include public order offences and hate crime. Their purpose is to improve the quality of staff assault investigation and provide feedback to police and other criminal justice partners, as well as improve victim care and support provided by TfL.

Our objective is to encourage staff to report every incident, and over the last five years our WVA team have proactively engaged with our people to demonstrate the benefits of reporting.

Please find the requested information in the table below, which refers to data from reports submitted by London Underground Staff:

 Physical Threat Verbal Total
 F M F M F M 
2014/15 104 363 219 752 405 971 2814
2015/16 90 348 147 470 367 833 2255
2016/17 104 338 106 421 264 679 1912
2017/18 120 372 141 516 315 651 2115
2018/19 158 435 182 534 314 650 2273

Please note the following:

Verbal abuse
Verbal abuse and/or abusive gestures are defined as insulting and/or offensive comments and is included in the description of workplace aggression provided that the insulting and/or offensive comments are directed at an individual, personally, who perceives them as threatening to their safety, wellbeing or health.

Threat
A threat is a declaration of intention to harm or injure and is included in the definition of workplace violence provided that the threat is personal to the individual, is specific to the individual’s safety, wellbeing or health and that the person making the threat is perceived by the individual to be capable of carrying it out.

Assault (Physical)
An assault is an act of violence that results in physical contact.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

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