The number of reported assaults on Britain’s railways has soared over the past decade, raising serious concerns about passenger safety and the effectiveness of current prevention measures. According to the Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) latest annual health and safety report, there were 10,231 reported assaults on the rail network between April 2024 and March 2025—a staggering increase from the 3,211 incidents recorded just ten years earlier. This marks a 7% rise from the previous year alone, highlighting a troubling upward trend that has left both rail authorities and passengers on edge.
Harassment and common assault now make up more than three quarters of all reported attacks on the mainline network, a figure reflected in the London Underground, where more than 80% of the 4,600 reported assaults fall into these categories. The Underground’s numbers are particularly alarming, as they represent the highest level of reported assaults since records began in 2004, according to BBC reporting on the ORR’s findings.
While the pandemic briefly interrupted this rise—assault reports dipped in 2019/20 as passenger numbers plummeted—2024-2025 saw a return to pre-pandemic travel volumes, with 1.7 billion journeys taken on the mainline railway. As more people returned to trains and the Tube, the number of reported assaults rebounded and, in some places, reached new highs.
The reasons behind this surge are complex. One factor is a concerted effort by the British Transport Police (BTP) to encourage more passengers to report inappropriate behavior. In 2022, the BTP launched its ‘Speak Up, Interrupt’ campaign, urging witnesses of sexual harassment to report incidents or, where safe, intervene. This campaign, officials say, has made a difference in raising awareness and empowering bystanders, but it may also be contributing to the spike in reported incidents as previously unreported cases come to light.
Yet, behind the statistics are real people—victims whose experiences highlight the human cost of these crimes. In a particularly disturbing case that has captured national attention, Hamza Alotaibi, 27, originally from Jordan, stands accused of sexually molesting four women and girls on the London Underground within a single month in early 2025. As reported by the Daily Mail, the youngest alleged victim was a 12-year-old girl whom Alotaibi is said to have approached on a District Line train between St James Park and Acton Town stations on January 27, 2025. Just two days later, he allegedly groped a young woman at Paddington station. On February 4, he is accused of assaulting another young woman near Whitechapel station on the Elizabeth Line, and on February 13, allegedly molesting yet another woman between Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf stations.
All of the alleged victims were traveling alone when targeted. Prosecutor David Burns stated in court, “These are similar offences where the defendant has targeted females on the transport network. On each occasion, the defendant has touched the genitals, buttocks or thighs of females travelling alone, one of whom was 12 years old at the time.”
At the time of his arrest, Alotaibi was living in taxpayer-funded Home Office accommodation in London, though the exact location was not specified in court. He has since been moved to similar accommodation in Hartlepool, County Durham. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Alotaibi denied four counts of sexual assault on a female. He was granted bail with strict conditions: he is prohibited from traveling on the UK rail network except for legal or medical appointments and must use an Oyster card whenever on the London Underground. His plea and trial preparation hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2025, at Inner London Crown Court.
This case is not isolated. Last week, another asylum seeker with a similar surname, Muslih Alotaibli, 39, from Saudi Arabia, was convicted of groping a 17-year-old girl on the Tube. He faces deportation to Saudi Arabia after serving his sentence. The Daily Mail reports that he assaulted the teenager on the Central Line between Oxford Circus and Mile End station on September 2, 2024. These incidents have fueled public debate over the adequacy of screening and support for migrants and asylum seekers, as well as the broader issue of passenger safety on public transport.
But sexual assaults are just one part of a wider safety challenge on Britain’s railways. The ORR’s report also found that, during the same 2024-2025 period, there were 14 deaths of members of the public on the mainline network and London Underground, excluding suicides and trespass-related incidents. Two rail workers lost their lives—one after being assaulted at a station, another from a fall. Injuries to members of the public and workers reached just over 11,472, marking the fourth consecutive yearly increase, though still below pre-pandemic levels. The vast majority—almost 80%—were non-severe.
Perhaps most sobering is the rise in suicides on the rail network, which reached their highest level since 2002. Across the mainline network, there were 368 suicides or suspected suicide attempts, resulting in 293 fatalities. Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group, and British Transport Police, in a joint statement reported by BBC, emphasized their commitment to reducing suicide risk. “We are committed to reducing suicide risk through staff training programmes that have already enabled thousands of life-saving interventions,” the statement read. The organizations are also investing in new technology, including drones and remote monitoring tools, to help prevent incidents and respond more quickly when they occur.
As the number of reported assaults and other safety incidents rises, rail authorities face mounting pressure to do more. The joint statement from Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group, and British Transport Police was unequivocal: “The safety of passengers and colleagues is our top priority.” Their efforts include both high-tech and human-centered approaches, from advanced surveillance to staff training designed to spot and de-escalate potentially dangerous situations.
Yet, for many passengers, particularly women and girls who travel alone, the statistics are more than just numbers—they are a daily reality that shapes how they use public transport. The challenge for authorities is to ensure that the rail network remains not just a means of getting from A to B, but a safe space for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or background.
With new campaigns, investments in technology, and a renewed focus on staff training, there is hope that the tide can be turned. But as the latest figures show, there is still a long way to go before Britain’s railways can be considered truly safe for all who use them.
