Figures released late last month show that reported assaults on Great Britain’s railways have risen by a fifth, reaching a record high of almost 25,000 incidents in a year. This includes nearly 2,500 physical assaults on rail workers in 2025-26, averaging about seven incidents daily.
Rail staff unions, RMT and TSSA, have attributed the rise to a decrease in British Transport Police (BTP) officers, whose numbers fell by more than 10% between 2024 and 2026. Staff members report an increase in threats, verbal abuse, and violence, with some wearing body cameras to record incidents.
The Office of Rail and Road's 2025-26 figures cover various incidents, including threats, verbal abuse, and physical contact. While some of the increase in passenger assaults, up 36% last year, is attributed to greater reporting, many incidents still go unreported.