London Transport Network Sees Significant Increase in Hate Crimes

Newly released figures indicate a significant increase in the number of hate crimes occurring on the London transport network. Homophobic attacks represent one of the categories experiencing a rise, which could be partly attributed to enhanced awareness of the reporting process. However, many victims opt not to disclose the abuse, with some later expressing regret for doing so. Dan Harry, a presenter and documentary-maker, recounted being attacked by a group of men after leaving a date at King’s Cross station. He described the incident: “As I went on the escalator, I could sense three men were behind me and were trying to get my attention. I was trying to just ignore it.” Harry continued, “I get on to the platform, I could see they’d followed me and now they’re standing behind me and whispering things in my ear. Horrible, homophobic slurs.” He further detailed, “As the train was getting closer, I could feel them getting closer and closer to my back, and they were almost nudging me forward closer and closer to the platform edge. “I remember feeling really scared and I didn’t know what to do.”” Harry added, “Nobody helped or said anything to me – and that almost stayed with me more than the initial homophobia I experienced in the first place.” He eventually managed to escape, but stated that one of his biggest regrets was not reporting the incident. Harry explained, “I just felt overwhelmed, I didn’t really know what to do, and from what I’ve heard from friends who have experienced similar things, I just don’t have a lot of faith in the authorities to actually find justice.” He concluded, “However, if I could go back I absolutely would report it.” Elektra Fence, a star from RuPaul’s Drag Race, has also been subjected to homophobic attacks “numerous times” on London transport. Recounting an experience, Fence stated, “It was Pride month and I was getting off the escalator at London Bridge in full face, – which is drag make-up – and a gentleman got off the train and kicked me.” She added, “He was also calling me homophobic names. I nearly tripped down the escalator.” Fence described her reaction: “I thought, ‘I’ve got to report this, I’m fed up of these attacks, I’m fed up of seeing these attacks, of them happening to me, I’m fed up of all this hate crime’.” She also mentioned, “I know one of my trans friends was spat at on the Underground, which is absolutely disgusting.” Fence questioned, “Why would you do that to someone who is just living their life, being themselves, their authentic selves?” Transport for London (TfL) recorded 2,974 hate crime incidents in 2023-24, an increase from the 2,217 reported in the preceding 12 months. TfL has deployed specialist teams to patrol the network with the aim of combating such incidents. Aiden Costello, the team manager for the patrol, noted an observable increase in hate crime. Costello stated, “Racially related hate crimes have gone up significantly since we’ve been out on the network.” He added, “It’s the same with homophobic hate crimes – anything relating to the LGBTQ+ community.” Costello affirmed, “We take a zero-tolerance approach to any kind of hate crime on the network.” He encouraged anyone who experiences such an incident to report it. Costello emphasized, “The more reports that get put in, the more something can be done about it.” The Metropolitan Police defines a hate crime as “any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice” based on: