Rise in sexual offences on the Tube, British Transport Police figures show

The annual number of sexual offences recorded on the Tube have risen, British Transport Police (BTP) figures show.

There were 909 sexual offences, excluding rape, recorded between December 1, 2022 and November 30, 2023, compared to 866 in the previous 12 months.

The figures also show that violent crimes rose, with 3,542 incidents reported, up from 2,963 in the previous year.

The number of robberies on the Tube network in London saw a steep rise, with 738 cases reported, up from 442.

The BTP figures were obtained by Sarah Olney, MP for Richmond Park, through a Freedom of Information request.

The Liberal Democrat has said "Londoners deserve better" and called for the Government and the Mayor of London "to end their political bickering" and come up with a strategy to tackle the surge in crime on public transport.

She said: "Women deserve to feel safe on public transport, yet these alarming figures risk telling a different story."

A spokesperson for Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC: "The safety of women and girls is an absolute priority for the mayor and Transport for London (TfL).

"TfL works with the BTP to pursue all sexual harassment offences using our extensive network of CCTV.

"We encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses incidents to report it to the police or a member of staff."

BTP’s head of crime and public protection, Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Furnell, also told the broadcaster: "The public's safety is our number-one priority and our officers are working hard to help deter and detect crime across the rail network."

Mr Furnell added there had been "an increase in solve rates" for robbery and sexual offences, "with more offenders being subjected to orders to inhibit their ability to offend".

He continued: "We use a variety of tactics to ensure journeys stay safe including uniform and plain-clothes patrols, thousands of CCTV cameras, and intelligence-driven policing."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are providing police forces with the tools they need to deliver for the public and since 2010 our communities are safer.

"Neighbourhood crimes including burglary, robbery and theft are down 50 per cent and violent crime is down 52 per cent."