UK rail assaults hit record 25,000 as staff face rising violence
Assaults on UK trains have soared to a record high of almost 25,000 incidents in 2025-26, representing a 20% rise from the previous year. Nearly 2,500 of these were physical assaults on staff – roughly seven per day. The surge comes as the British Transport Police has lost more than 10% of its officers between 2024 and 2026, leaving workers and passengers increasingly vulnerable to violence including verbal abuse, spitting, head-butting and sexual harassment.
Rail staff unions have described the figures as horrendous though unsurprising, pointing to insufficient staffing and policing as contributing factors. Workers report that threats and violence have escalated significantly since the pandemic, driven in part by drink, drugs and mental health issues. Whilst some of the recorded rise is attributed to improved reporting mechanisms such as discreet text messaging to police, many incidents remain unreported. Violence against women and girls has become a particular concern, with transport officials describing it as a "national emergency".
- Record 25,000 assaults on UK trains in 2025-26; staff face roughly seven physical attacks daily.
- BTP numbers fell 10% as violence surged, fuelled by drink, drugs and mental health crises.
- Violence against women on public transport described as national emergency by officials and ministers.
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UK railways are experiencing record levels of assaults against workers and passengers. Nearly 25,000 incidents were recorded in 2025-26, including almost 2,500 physical assaults on staff. These incidents range from verbal abuse and spitting to head-butting and sexual harassment.
Several factors are contributing to the rise. The British Transport Police has lost more than 10% of its officers between 2024 and 2026, reducing the police presence at stations and on trains. Workers report that assaults have increased significantly since the pandemic, partly driven by substance abuse and mental health problems. The recorded increase is also partly due to improved reporting systems that make it easier for staff to report incidents.
The situation raises concerns about safety on railways. Violence against women and girls has become a particular focus of concern. As assaults continue to rise whilst police numbers fall, workers face an increasingly difficult working environment.
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The case for
These figures represent an urgent crisis in rail safety demanding significant action. With nearly 25,000 assaults recorded and 2,500 physical attacks on staff—roughly seven per day—workers and passengers face an unacceptably violent environment. Even allowing for improved reporting mechanisms, the trend shows genuine deterioration coinciding with substantial British Transport Police cuts. Immediate investment in staffing, policing and victim support is essential to restore safe conditions and protect vulnerable groups, particularly women.
The case against
Whilst the figures warrant serious attention, they require measured interpretation. The 20% increase partly reflects improved reporting systems rather than purely new incidents. The root causes—mental health crises, substance misuse, social pressures—are complex societal issues unlikely to be resolved by transport-specific policing alone. Resources should prioritise addressing these underlying factors through community health and social services, with any transport-sector investment rigorously evaluated for cost-effectiveness against broader public health interventions.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “‘The violence is off the scale’: staff and passengers at risk as assaults on UK trains soar to record high”.