A young woman from London is set to stand trial next year after being charged with the unusual offence of walking the wrong way on an Underground station escalator.
The Alleged Offence and Court Appearance
Michaela Copeland, 21, appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 28 November. The charge relates to an incident alleged to have occurred the previous day, Thursday, 27 November, at North Greenwich Underground Station on the Transport for London (TfL) network.
She is accused of contravening a specific railway byelaw which states: "No person shall use any escalator on the railway except by standing or walking on it in the direction intended for travel." It is not specified whether she allegedly attempted to go up a 'down' escalator or down an 'up' one.
Ms Copeland, who is from Bermondsey in southeast London, was photographed leaving the court using crutches. She has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
Potential Consequences and Little-Known Rules
Breaching this byelaw can result in a summary conviction and a fine of up to £1,000. A brief trial, estimated to last around three hours, has been scheduled for April.
This case has highlighted one of the many obscure regulations within TfL's byelaws. Other lesser-known offences include misusing station entrances and exits—for example, using an entrance as an exit or vice versa.
The byelaws also strictly limit who can operate lifts or escalators, permitting it only in emergencies or for authorised personnel.
Broader Context of Safety and Security on the Network
The news emerges amid ongoing concerns about safety and violence on London's transport network. Recent data shows a sharp increase in reported violent offences on the Tube.
Figures from October 2021 to October 2023 recorded 3,542 violent crimes, representing a 20% rise on the previous year and a 75% increase compared to the period from December 2020 to November 2021.
In response, a petition started by UCL student Camille Brown, 21, is calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL to introduce women-only carriages on all Tube lines to improve safety. The petition has garnered over 14,000 verified signatures, surpassing the 10,000 required to trigger an official government response.
