Reported assaults on Great Britain's railways have reached a record high of nearly 25,000 incidents in 2025-26, according to the Office of Rail and Road. The figures are of particular concern to rail unions, who argue they demonstrate an urgent need for increased staffing, enhanced policing, and stronger legal protections for frontline workers and passengers. The RMT general secretary described the numbers as "horrendous," noting that union surveys showed two-thirds of members had experienced some form of violence at work in the past year.

The data reveals 13,464 assaults against passengers on mainline railways (up 36% year-on-year), the highest since tracking began in 2004, and 11,289 assaults on rail staff (up 12%), including nearly 2,500 physical attacks averaging seven per day. Harassment cases rose 52% and common assault increased 30%, though these figures partly reflect improved reporting processes and zero-tolerance campaigns rather than exclusively new incidents. Whilst the rail industry is implementing additional CCTV, body-worn cameras, and enhanced reporting protocols, unions and regulators emphasise that broader measures—including ending lone working and increasing staffing—are essential, particularly given recent pressure on British Transport Police numbers.