Request ID: FOI-4223-2324 Date published: 25 March 2024
You asked
7.3.24 clarification:
I am asking about assaults on TfL staff by passengers.
I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) to request the details on assault, verbal harassment, and misconduct charges made by TFL workers on the London Underground against passengers. Please give me the data from the following:
1. How many above mentioned incidents were reported month-by-month in 2023?
2. How many above mentioned incidents were reported month-by-month in 2022?
3. Which line has the most reports of above mentioned incidents in 2022 and 2023?
We answered
TfL Ref: 4223-2324
Thank you for your clarified request received by us on 7 March 2024 asking for information about assaults on London Underground staff by passengers.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked: I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) to request the details on assault, verbal harassment, and misconduct charges made by TFL London Underground workers against passengers. Please give me the data from the following:
How many above mentioned incidents were reported month-by-month in 2023?
How many above mentioned incidents were reported month-by-month in 2022?
Which line has the most reports of above mentioned incidents in 2022 and 2023?
Our staff work hard to serve the millions of customers who use the transport network every day and have the right to go about their work without fear or intimidation. We take workplace violence extremely seriously and know that it is underreported, so 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 very recently mandated body-worn cameras for all frontline customer facing roles to be used as standard kit as they are proving to reduce the risk of assaults. We also fund a team of enforcement officers who were introduced to support frontline staff and tackle workplace violence.
A specialist unit within TfL works with both the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and British Transport Police (BTP) to investigate crimes against staff. The Workplace Violence and Aggression (WVA) Team supports 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. Its purpose is to improve the quality of staff assault investigation and provide feedback to police and other criminal justice partners, as well as improve the victim care and support we provide.
Please see attached the monthly breakdown of Workplace Violence and Aggression (WVA) incidents noting that the way we classify them is Physical, Threat and Verbal Abuse.
In 2022 the highest number of recorded incidents occurred on the District line and in 2023 the highest number of recorded incidents occurred on the Northern line.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
