Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – London bus drivers face rising attacks, with 818 assaults in 2024. Unite and Hina Bokhari urge TfL and Mayor Khan to act, highlighting Southwark and other hotspot boroughs.
As the Southwark News reported, bus drivers in London are facing a sharp rise in attacks while on duty. New figures from a Freedom of Information request show 818 cases of physical assault and crimes against drivers in 2024, up from 679 in 2023.
During the first 8 months of this year, there were 431 reported occurrences. The areas that were most affected were Westminster, Croydon, Haringey, Ealing, and Southwark. In Southwark, several drivers have been attacked by aggressive passers, leading to concerns about safety on the local bus network. The UK’s largest trade union describes the increase as “shameful”, and is calling for immediate action to ensure the safety of staff.
What is TfL doing to stop 818 bus driver assaults in London?
Union leaders and safety experts say stronger security, better reporting systems, and focused interventions in areas such as Southwark are needed. They stress that driver safety is essential for staff and for maintaining public confidence in buses. Campaigners are calling on TfL to take immediate measures to ensure safer conditions for drivers and passengers in all boroughs, including Southwark.
Unite national officer for passenger transport, Wayne King, told the DRS:
“These figures are simply disgraceful. Assaults have increased dramatically since COVID and demonstrate a wider problem in society.
These figures show assaults are a daily occurrence for thousands of Unite members driving buses in the capital. No one should go to work expecting to be abused and assaulted.
The Mayor, TfL and every bus operator need to take action to protect drivers. Doing nothing is not an option.”
Hina Bokhari, the Liberal Democrat group leader on the London Assembly, has raised concerns over the rising number of attacks on bus drivers in London. She told the London Daily Reporter Service that the figures are “deeply concerning” and show a growing rise in hate and violence across society. Bokhari said these attacks are now targeting the essential workers who keep London moving.
Bokhari also called on the Mayor of London to take urgent action. She noted his personal connection to the transport sector as the son of a Pakistani bus driver and said this should make him aware of the dangers facing staff. She emphasised that frontline workers should not be subjected to threats and abuse while at work.