London, December 13, 2025
A sharp rise in abuse, assaults, and threats against bus drivers across Britain has emerged in 2024-25, with the British Transport Police recording over 40,000 antisocial behavior incidents—a 24% increase from the previous year. This surge of violence, largely involving schoolchildren and younger passengers, has raised alarm over public transport safety nationwide.
Personal Testimony from a Veteran Driver
Collett, a bus driver with nearly 40 years of experience, recounts being attacked by approximately 30 schoolchildren. The assault resulted in cuts, bruises, and bent fingers as he tried to prevent them from boarding his bus. He has endured multiple assaults, been spat upon numerous times, and witnessed broken windows, attributing these incidents to a rising sense of lawlessness among youth on public transport.
Nationwide Trends and Data
Antisocial incidents encompass verbal harassment, racial slurs, threats involving knives, physical violence, vandalism, and fare evasion. These behaviors are not confined to large cities but are reported in towns and smaller communities across the country. According to a Transport for the North survey, buses remain the most utilized public transport mode but are simultaneously perceived as the least safe by passengers.
Specific Challenges Highlighted
Among the troubling acts are fireworks launched at passengers, which have led to suspensions of evening bus services in areas like Lester’s Nether Hall estate. Window smashing, particularly by groups of children, compounds these safety concerns. Notably, spikes in antisocial behavior frequently coincide with Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations. An isolated but illustrative incident involved a Zimbabwean migrant who attacked a bus driver and robbed schoolchildren yet remained in the UK for 14 years, highlighting enforcement gaps.
Enforcement and Response Measures
In response to escalating incidents, authorities have bolstered the deployment of Transport Safety Officers (TSOs), especially in regions such as the West Midlands where their numbers have doubled to 25 since 2019. TSOs patrol buses daily, issue warnings to unruly juveniles, detain suspects—including minors involved in vandalism—and forward cases to police for prosecution. These efforts have led to arrests and sentencing, such as a six-month custodial sentence for one offender. However, TSOs possess limited enforcement powers beyond evidence collection.
Implications for Public Safety and the Transport Sector
The alarming increase in violent and antisocial conduct on buses poses significant risks for public transport workers and passengers alike. It reveals systemic challenges in maintaining safety and order on a critical transport infrastructure. Recent media coverage underscores the urgency for enhanced interventions and coordinated policy responses to protect frontline workers and restore public confidence.
As these trends continue, stakeholders including policymakers, transport authorities, and law enforcement face mounting pressure to implement robust safety protocols and address the underlying causes of antisocial behavior among young passengers.