Unite the union has described that latest statistics for assaults on bus drivers “disgraceful”
Transport for London (TfL) must do more to crack down on the “disgraceful” number of bus drivers being assaulted in London, the UK’s largest trade union has said.
New figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request showed there were 818 physical assaults and hate crimes against drivers on duty in 2024 – up from 679 a year earlier. This year alone up to mid-August, there have been 431 incidents reported by drivers.
Some of the worst boroughs for the crimes include Westminster, which had 56 in 2024, Croydon and Haringey, which both had 48, and Ealing, which had 40.
The statistics have prompted fresh calls for the Mayor of London, as the Chair of the TfL Board, to take action to ensure driver safety from aggressive passengers.
Unite national officer for passenger transport, Wayne King, told the LDRS: “These figures are simply disgraceful. Assaults have increased dramatically since Covid and demonstrate a wider problem in society.
“These figure show assaults are a daily occurrence for thousands of Unite members driving buses in the capital. No one should go to work expecting to be abused and assaulted.
“The Mayor, TfL and every bus operator need to take action to protect drivers. Doing nothing is not an option.”
Hina Bokhari, the Liberal Democrat group leader on the London Assembly, told the LDRS: “These figures are deeply concerning and reflect the growing tide of hate and violence across our society that’s now targeting the very workers who keep London moving.
“Given the Mayor’s background as the son of a Pakistani bus driver, I hope he will take this crisis seriously and act with the urgency it demands. Our frontline workers face enough challenges without becoming the targets of thugs and bigots.”
‘I was badly injured’
The LDRS spoke to one bus driver who was a victim of being assaulted last April.
The 34-year-old, who was operating a late-night route in West London at the time, said a passenger blamed him after he tripped and spilled his food and drink on the floor of the vehicle while the bus was moving.
“I immediately stopped the bus and some passengers helped him off the floor – but straight away he came to my cabin and started banging on the window,” the driver, who does not want to be identified, said.
“He demanded money and said it was my fault. He was verbally abusive and increasingly aggressive. After triggering the assault alarm, all the passengers got off the bus. But no one came in the middle to help.
“The passenger managed to break the driver cabin door and came inside the cabin. He started punching me on my forehead and ears and demanding money for the food and drink. At first I told him I couldn’t give him any money, but he continued. I gave whatever I had in my bag to him and finally he started moving out of the bus.
“But then a lady who was with him came to the cabin and hit me on my forehead. Both of them left but I was badly injured at the time – my arm, face and hand were all hurt. TfL ask us to stay in the cabin if in danger, but I followed that rule and look what happened!”
Earlier this year hundreds of bus drivers marched on Parliament Square to campaign for a bill of rights in London bus contracts. The demands – first made in 2017 – include access to toilet and rest facilities on all routes, no forced overtime and temperature control. The march also followed a MyLondon investigation last year that highlighted how drivers were becoming exhausted and concerned about the safety of their vehicles.
In February, the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said “many aspects of the proposed Bus Drivers’ Bill of Rights are already covered by existing agreements, actions or legislation”.
In a joint statement on Monday (September 22), London Bus Watch and London Bus Forums said: “With over one person now killed per month in a preventable safety incident on or by a bus in London, the Mayor’s refusal to inscribe guarantees of safe working conditions for bus drivers in TfL’s framework bus services contract is an insult to those over 100 people who have already been killed in such incidents while Sadiq Khan has served as Mayor and TfL Chair.
“Regrettably, without the Mayor’s acceptance of, and action on, the London Bus Drivers’ bill of rights, those chilling numbers will only grow, regardless of the Mayor’s ‘Vision Zero’ PR stunts.”
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director for Security, Policing and Enforcement, told the LDRS: “Bus drivers 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 do not tolerate any violence, aggression or threatening behaviour towards them. We know that workplace violence is under reported so we always encourage people 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.
“A specialist unit within TfL works with both the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police to investigate 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 TfL staff and bus drivers, which can include public order offences and hate crime.
“We are committed to doing all we can to protect our colleagues and keep them safe, and to eradicate work-related violence and aggression.”
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