London's Public Safety Crisis: The Rising Tide of Crime On Public Transport
Added: (Tue Dec 26 2023)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
London, United Kingdom, 26.12.2023 - The "Six Month Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Report" for April to September 2023 issued by the Transport for London (TfL) highlights a concerning trend of increasing crime rates in London, particularly the crimes in public transport.
Here are the alarming insights based on the report:
Robbery on Trams Network
In these 6 months, a 141% increase in robberies has been reported on the Trams network, compared to the same period in the previous year. The reported crimes increased from 17 to 41 offences. 78% of these robberies were at the stops, with East Croydon and Birkbeck being the most affected. Mostly these crimes occurred on weekdays between 16:00-22:00 hours.
Theft on the Elizabeth Line
A significant rise in theft on the Elizabeth Line has been reported during this period, which has surpassed the previous year's figures. Most of the thefts, approximately, 65%, occurred on trains, while 35% occurred within stations. These offences occured mostly between 15:00-23:00 hours. Stratford, Paddington, and Ilford were the top stations for these thefts.
Bus Network Crime
The theft of personal property remained consistently high on the bus network throughout this period. Interestingly, a typical seasonal trend was observed, with a decrease in August before a rise towards the end of the year.
Overall Crime Increase
The report highlighted a 30% increase in the crimes recorded across all modes of transport in London. The total number of crimes reported from April to September 2023 is 22,294 crimes, compared to 17,160 crimes in the same period in 2022.
London Underground Crime Trends
The number of crimes recorded in underground transport has increased by 56%, with a total of 10,836 cases reported during this period, compared to 6,924 in the same period in 2022.
Public Concern and Impact on Transport Use
The residents of London are worried about personal security on public transport. About 7% of Londoners have limited their use of public transport due to the surge in crime. The most common concerns of the commoners include threatening behaviours, drunken passengers, and overcrowding.
Most Cited Worrying Incidents
Overcrowding, drunken passengers, and anti-social behaviour were most cited as worrying incidents by the Londoners. On the London Underground, concerns were primarily related to drunken passengers, threatening behaviour, and witnessing begging.
These findings emphasise the need for increased vigilance and enhanced security across London's public transport to address the rising crime rates and public concerns.
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