TfL hate crime remains above pre-October 2023 levels on London’s transport network, senior officers told the London Assembly, with the higher reporting linked to the Israel–Gaza war, as reported by the BBC. Incidents targeting Jewish and Muslim communities surged in late 2023, and while the numbers have come down more recently, they have not returned to earlier levels.

TfL hate crime stays elevated on London transport
Ch Supt Casey said there was a “balance” to be drawn in allowing protests at transport hubs (image from 31 October 2023)

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

TfL hate crime trends since October 2023

British Transport Police (BTP) Chief Superintendent Chris Casey told the assembly’s police and crime committee that international events can quickly feed into the pattern of hate crime reports. “International events play a really big part – they do generate increases in hate crime and we see those reports,” he said. The effect, the committee heard, has been felt across the Tube, trains and buses.

Don’t miss…VR FleetCare Log Wagon Delivery for UPM: Timeline and Details

Casey said BTP recorded a sharp rise in antisemitic hate crime towards the end of 2023. He noted that this happened in the context of the Jewish community making up a small share of the population, and an even smaller share of those who are Jewish choosing to travel on the network. He also said the increase mirrored what the Metropolitan Police recorded.

BTP figures show that between January and August 2024, hate crime across the public transport network rose 27.8% year on year, from 1,551 to 1,982 offences, according to a London Assembly press release. The number later fell by 8.3%, from 1,383 incidents in 2024 to 1,268 in June 2025, but remains above levels recorded before October 2023.

What BTP and TfL told the London Assembly committee?

Mandy McGregor, TfL’s head of policing and community safety, said reports have eased since the peak linked to the start of the conflict, but are still higher than before October 2023. “That’s from a peak when the Gaza-Israel situation [started]. So we have seen it come down, but it’s still higher than levels before October 2023,” she said, describing the reduction since the peak as about 8%.

The committee also heard about the impact of demonstrations on busy parts of the network. London has hosted hundreds of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests since the conflict began, including some inside major transport hubs such as King’s Cross and Liverpool Street stations.

Casey said large stations were not an “ideal” location for protests, but police have to balance lawful protest with keeping services running safely. “As long as the station can safely operate and it doesn’t impact critical national infrastructure then we have to find a way to balance those rights as long as it’s lawful activity,” he said. He added that some statements may shock or offend, but that the balance still has to be maintained.

Protests, transport hubs, and “subvertising” on the network

Assembly members also raised concerns about “subvertising” — political messages fly-posted over approved adverts — and whether some material could amount to hate crime. Despite TfL banning political advertising under its TfL Advertising Policy, marketing calling for a boycott of Coca-Cola appeared on some Tube trains last week.

Conservative assembly member Lord Bailey said: “These would appear to be hate crimes, there’s certainly a large section of the public, myself included, who consider them a hate crime.” BTP Superintendent Sam Painter told the committee that unauthorised advertising was removed as soon as it was identified. He added that police frequently see this kind of subversion of advertising on TfL’s network by a range of political groups, and that it is removed once identified.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…11 FLIRT trains for Koleje Mazowieckie: Stadler contract

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit