London's Tube safety under fire as critics say TfL shifts burden to passengers

A London-focused column argues that the safety environment on the capital’s Underground has deteriorated under Mayor Sadiq Khan, with violent incidents, theft, harassment, and sexual offenses mounting on the Tube as passengers are urged to look after one another rather than rely on police and staff presence. The piece contends that Transport for London (TfL) has not matched the rise in incidents with stepped-up patrols or staffing, instead prodding riders to intervene and contact authorities only after trouble begins. The author frames this as a broader erosion of public safety on a system that millions rely on daily and frames the current slogan “See it. Say it. Sorted” as insufficient to deter or deter recklessness.

The author describes personal experiences on the Bakerloo line to illustrate a broader pattern of risk. He portrays a daily commute marked by vigilance, graffiti, and a sense that violence on platforms and carriages is increasingly common. The piece notes that the Tube’s carriages have become sites of grime and vandalism, with posters this week reiterating a bystander-focused approach to safety: a new campaign urged people who witness “unusual behaviour” to seek staff help or text 61016. The author rejects the idea that such bystander guidance is a balanced remedy, arguing that it effectively places the onus on passengers who may be unprepared or unwilling to intervene in dangerous situations.

A central claim of the piece is that the Tube’s safety crisis has deep roots in policy choices and resource allocation. It cites a 2022 to 2023 period in which TfL reportedly shifted responsibility to the public while claims of a robust policing or staff presence on the network waned. The piece emphasizes a high-profile, wholly separate incident that has become symbolic: the 28-year-old AI engineer Samuel Winter was killed by a single punch at Southwark station after brushing past a man on an escalator last August. The assailant, Rakeem Miles, 24, was sentenced to eight years in prison. The author uses this case to illustrate the real consequences of a system perceived as unable to deter or quickly respond to violence.

The article contrasts London’s approach with the stricter, codified responses seen in Singapore, where rail travelers are told that sexual offenses will be punished swiftly and harshly. It quotes a Singaporean framework that labels offenses such as sexual molestation with a clear legal consequence, including jail terms and other penalties, and notes that police in Singapore actively pursue and prosecute offenders. The author uses the comparison to argue that London’s softer approach contributes to a climate in which sex attacks are normalized and where victims may feel unsupported by authorities. The piece also argues that the problem is not simply one of isolated incidents but of a broader culture of impunity on the Tube, supported by insufficient enforcement and limited staff visibility.

The author points to a January 2023 policy shift by TfL, implemented with input from the British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police, that urged bystanders to intervene when witnessing sexual assaults. The described three-step approach—make a distraction, make a note, and offer support—takes aim at empowering bystanders but also raises concerns about safety for frontline witnesses and potential missteps that could put vulnerable people at greater risk. The piece stresses that no solution exists in a vacuum, and it notes that vulnerable riders may be at risk of becoming targets when attempting to intervene, or could be blamed for consequences that arise from the interventions themselves.

Personal experience figures prominently in the narrative. The author recounts an assault outside a Tube station earlier in the year and explains a reluctance to report the incident to police, citing a sense that nothing would come of a formal investigation. He uses this anecdote to illustrate systemic frustration with reporting processes and to argue that a lack of accountability from authorities undermines confidence in the safety of the Tube. In response, he and a group of allies affiliated with the Looking for Growth Campaign undertook a grassroots cleanup of graffiti, armed with eco-friendly cleaners and a determination to restore some dignity to the trains. The effort yielded visible improvements in the first carriage they cleaned, though the group’s actions drew sharp criticism from TfL’s commissioner, who urged people not to take matters into their own hands. The author challenges that claim, noting that a freedom-of-information request showed TfL had no recorded information suggesting that volunteers were responsible for vandalism, and he asserts that the organization should be grateful when concerned citizens take an interest in the network.

The exchange with TfL’s leadership is further depicted through the commissioner’s public remarks. The author quotes Andy Lord, the TfL commissioner, urging, in a public forum, that individuals not intervene in this manner, framing the volunteers’ actions as inappropriate. The piece asserts that the force of official messaging and the perception of a lack of meaningful enforcement undermine public confidence in a system that should be safe and reliable. The author contends that a more robust approach to safety—including visible policing, better staffing, and clearer consequences for offenders—would be a more credible deterrent and would reduce the fear that keeps people off the network. The argument also frames the current guidelines as a stopgap measure that does not address underlying issues of crime and intimidation on the Tube.

In summary, the column argues that London’s Underground is facing a safety crisis that is not being adequately addressed by TfL or by the city’s policing infrastructure. It asserts that the network has become more dangerous for regular riders, including women, who frequently encounter harassment and intimidation. The author calls for a recalibration of safety policy toward more proactive policing, stronger staff presence, and robust enforcement of laws to deter offenders, alongside a more transparent commitment to public accountability. It remains to be seen how TfL, the Metropolitan Police, and the broader safety ecosystem will respond to these criticisms and whether policy shifts will translate into tangible improvements for the millions who rely on the Tube every day.