A petition is underway to ban balaclavas in London Underground stations and on the Tube. It was started by concerned citizen Sam Spencer, who says a family member of his was robbed on a ‘crowded carriage’ at 2pm.
Sam argues the balaclavas are exclusively for ‘criminal activity’ which is ‘plaguing’ the transport system, and there is no good reason to where them on TfL services other than to be a ‘thug’. The petition was started on April 11 and has amassed over 1,200 signatures.
Once petitions hit the target, they can be delivered to the person or body they’re for or against. There is no set expiry date, unlike Parliamentary petitions which last for six months.
Taking to Change.org, he wrote: “A gang wearing balaclavas robbed my family member on London’s underground in Central London at 2pm on a crowded carriage! Shockingly… when we spoke to the station staff they said this theft was not an isolated incident.
“There are daily accounts of crimes committed by an organised group of balaclava-clad criminals. Without visible faces, these thugs continue without fear of consequence because even video footage of the attacks is useless if they are wearing a balaclava.
He continued: “Balaclavas are only worn in public spaces for criminal activity and if more gangs start wearing them it will become nothing short of an epidemic that plagues our transit systems and endangers innocent lives every day. I propose the immediate ban of the wearing of balaclavas on public transport and in stations. This will allow for easier identification in the case of potential crime.
“Our plea is grounded in the basic premise of maintaining safety and security in our community. Countless victims who have lost their sense of safety, belongings, and peace of mind to these masked thugs.
“Let’s ensure that no more individuals have to suffer like my own family member did. Our public transport has no police presence so the least we can have is a ban on balaclavas!
“Please share this on socials and with anyone who wants to feel safe on our public transport!”
‘We are really sorry that this happened’
A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said: “We are really sorry that this happened on our network and understand how distressing this would have been. We work hard with the British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police to tackle crime on our public transport networks and ensure that our customers can travel safely. Tackling robbery is a priority for us.
“While the level of robbery is low for a mass public transport system, we know that these incidents have a huge impact on our customers who experience them and other customers who witness this. There is a wide range of activity underway to deter, detect and investigate these criminals.
“While we have no plans to introduce such a blanket ban, we are currently reviewing our tactics to ensure that they are effective in continuing to drive down levels of robbery on public transport and ensuring that our transport network remains a safe environment to work and travel. We would encourage customers to report any incidents or suspicious activity on London Underground by texting 61016 or calling 999 in an emergency.”
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