Unite, the largest trade union in the UK, has urged Transport for London (TfL) to intensify efforts to address the “shameful” incidents of assaults on bus drivers.

Recent statistics acquired through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reveal that in 2024, there have been 818 reported physical attacks and hate crimes targeting drivers in London, reflecting a 20.5% increase compared to the previous year.

By mid-August of this year alone, drivers reported 431 incidents, as highlighted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

TfL has asserted its “commitment to safeguarding our colleagues” and has encouraged the public to report any acts of abuse.

Wayne King, Unite’s national officer for passenger transport, stated, “These statistics are utterly disgraceful. No one should have to face the reality of being abused or assaulted while at work.

“The rise in assaults since the Covid pandemic points to a broader issue within society.”

He emphasized the necessity for the mayor, TfL, and bus operators to act in order to ensure drivers’ safety.

The LDRS interviewed a bus driver, who wished to remain anonymous, who suffered severe injuries from an assault last April.

While operating a late-night service in west London, he faced aggression from a passenger who blamed him after he tripped and spilled his food and drink.

“The passenger immediately came to my cabin, banging on the window and hurling verbal abuse with increasing aggression,” the driver recounted.

Although he activated the assault alarm, he mentioned that “no assistance arrived.”

“The passenger broke into the driver’s compartment and began striking me on the forehead and ears, demanding compensation for his spilled food and drink,” he said.

“I initially told him I couldn’t give him any money, but he kept insisting. Eventually, I handed over what I had, and he started to leave. However, another woman accompanying him then struck me on the forehead.”

“TfL instructs us to remain in the cabin if we feel threatened, and I adhered to that guideline—look what happened.”

The report indicates that some of the highest instances of these crimes occurred in boroughs such as Westminster, which recorded 56 assaults in 2024, along with Croydon and Haringey, each with 48 incidents, and Ealing, which had 40.

Earlier this year, a significant number of bus drivers marched to Parliament Square advocating for a Bus Drivers’ Bill of Rights aimed at enhancing their working conditions and safety, which includes equitable wages, well-maintained vehicles, and appropriate rest periods.

At that time, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan remarked that “various elements of the proposed bill of rights are already addressed by existing agreements, actions, or legislation.”

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director for security, policing, and enforcement, remarked, “We do not accept any form of violence, aggression, or threatening behavior directed at bus drivers.”

She mentioned that TfL’s workplace violence and aggression team collaborates with law enforcement to investigate both physical assaults and verbal aggression against staff, urging the public to report any instances of abuse to allow for preventive actions to be taken.

The BBC has reached out to Sir Sadiq for his response.