Alarming new statistics have exposed a disturbing surge in violent crimes across Britain's railway network, with nearly 16,000 offences recorded in the past year alone.
Shocking Scale of Railway Violence
Official figures obtained by The Sun reveal that 15,528 violent crimes took place on trains or at railway stations in the year to April, representing a seven percent increase from the previous year. This equates to approximately 40 attacks every single day across the national rail network.
The disturbing data comes amidst a series of high-profile violent incidents on Britain's railways. Just two weeks ago, ten passengers were attacked in a mass stabbing aboard a London North Eastern Railway service from Doncaster to London King's Cross near Huntingdon.
In another horrific incident merely three days before that attack, a 13-year-old boy was stabbed in what witnesses described as 'broad daylight in front of horrified onlookers' on the platform at Manchester Piccadilly Station.
Breakdown of Offences and Locations
The comprehensive statistics detail that 10,940 offences were committed against passengers, while rail staff suffered 3,625 attacks and British Transport Police officers faced 963 assaults.
Additionally, records show 2,658 sexual offences and 843 crimes involving weapons such as knives and guns occurred across the railway network.
London Euston emerged as the most dangerous station in Britain, with 227 assaults recorded at this transport hub alone. The capital featured prominently in recent incidents, with a 20-year-old man stabbed at Belvedere Station in south-east London on Friday night. Witnesses reported seeing two groups armed with a zombie knife and an iron bar.
Political Pressure and Security Responses
These damning figures have intensified pressure on both the Government and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to address the escalating crime crisis on Britain's transport network.
Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander ruled out implementing airport-style security scanners in stations following the Huntingdon stabbing attack, stating the Government did not want to make 'life impossible for everyone' despite calls for enhanced security measures.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has demanded 'tough and radical action' to combat knife crime, including deploying live facial recognition technology in train stations and towns.
Meanwhile, a heroic rail staff member who acted as a human shield during the Huntingdon knife rampage has been discharged from hospital. Samir Zitouni, known as Sam, had been in critical condition since November 1 after suffering multiple injuries while using a frying pan from the buffet carriage kitchen to protect passengers from the attacker.
Anthony Williams, 32, of Peterborough, has been charged with ten attempted murders over the Huntingdon attack plus an additional count of attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a passenger in the face at Pontoon Dock DLR Station in east London hours earlier. Williams remains in custody awaiting his next hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on December 1.
