Number of abuse incidents reported by TFL bus driver staff
Request ID: FOI-4618-2324 Date published: 12 April 2024
You asked
I would therefore like to request data on the number of abuse incidents/assaults reported by TFL bus driver staff from 2014-2024.
And
How many of these incidents involved racist abuse?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-4618-2324
Thank you for your request received on 19 March 2024 asking for information about abuse incidents reported by bus drivers. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked for: I would therefore like to request data on the number of abuse incidents/assaults reported by TFL bus driver staff from 2014-2024. How many of these incidents involved racist abuse? We classify all reports of work-related violence and aggression as either physical assault, threat or verbal abuse. We have published a pan-TfL strategy with the long-term aim to eradicate work-related violence and aggression. All our staff have the right to do their job without fear or intimidation and we do not tolerate any violence, aggression or threatening behaviour towards them. We take workplace violence extremely seriously and know that it is underreported, so 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. As stated in my acknowledgement, bus drivers are employed by the bus operator and not TfL. Please find the requested information in the table below:
Financial Year
No. Bus Driver Incidents
No. Race Related Incidents
Percentage
2020 - 2021
3734
342
9.2%
2021 - 2022
4300
315
7.3%
2022 - 2023
4283
329
7.7%
2023 – 2024*
4361
288
6.6%
*Financial year 2023 - 2024 contains data from 01/04/2023 to 26/03/2024 Please be advised that the contents of this table have been calculated from offences reported to the Metropolitan Police Service, incidents reported on our internal reporting platform and incidents captured from data recording when a bus driver has called for assistance. We have been measuring workplace violence and aggression this way since the start of the 2020/21 financial year, therefore we only hold information from this date. Please also note that the second column only specifies the number of incidents where racial abuse was used. Offences aggravated by other forms of hate have not been included in this total. If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate 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
