EXCLUSIVE: More than two sex offences are reported every day on Tube network

By Lars Mucklejohn

West London stations recorded among the highest number of sexual offences on the Tube last year, police figures show.

Data obtained under Freedom of Information laws shows 781 sexual offences on the London Underground were reported to the British Transport Police from January 1 to December 19, 2022 – an average of more than two per day.

The figures mark a 29 per cent increase from 604 reports in 2021, when public transport was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The last time numbers were higher was 2019, which saw 1,085 reports.

Transport for London (TfL) has also noted that most sexual offences on its network go unreported.

There were 32 sexual offences reported at Stratford station – the most of any Tube stop. It was followed by Oxford Circus with 31 and Green Park with 29.

King’s Cross St Pancras, the busiest Tube station, was fourth with 26, while Baker Street was fifth with 22.

South London stations Stockwell and Brixton were among the top 20, with 11 and 12 reports respectively.

Women made up 91 per cent of the victims.

A fifth of reports did not list the age of the victim, but at least 76 were aged 17 or younger, including 12 children under 13 years old. At least two victims were aged over 60.

There were 537 reports of sexual assault of females, including 10 victims aged under the age of 13. Eight of these reports involved penetration of females aged over 13.

In all 43 sexual assaults were recorded of males, including two aged under 13.

And 78 instances of exposure were recorded, as well as 77 reports of committing an act of outraging public decency and 42 reports of upskirting.

The Central line had the most reports of any Tube line, with 152. The Victoria and Jubilee lines were second and third with 137 and 121 respectively.

Despite being the busiest, the Northern line was fourth with 89.

The Circle and Hammersmith and City lines had the fewest reports with 33.

TfL launched an anti-sexual harassment campaign in January, urging passengers to be “active bystanders” and report offences.

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, policing and enforcement, said: “We operate a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of sexual harassment on London’s public transport network and are absolutely committed to ensuring that women and girls are, and feel, safe.

“We’re not asking customers to police the network – that’s our job working alongside the police – but we do know that customers also want to look out for and support one another if something doesn’t feel right.

“If it is safe to do so, there are ways passengers can help if they witness someone being harassed or made to feel uncomfortable.

“Small actions can make a huge difference and any reports help us to take action against offenders and put the right measures in place to prevent it from happening.”

(Picture: rawpixel)