Newly released statistics from the British Transport Police have unveiled the United Kingdom's most dangerous railway stations, with the worst-performing hubs recording over a thousand criminal offences in a single year. The comprehensive data highlights a troubling landscape of sex assaults, violent attacks, muggings, and drug offences occurring across the nation's rail network.
Euston Station Tops the List with Alarming Figures
The station with the most severe crime record was Euston Station in London, where authorities logged more than 1,500 offences during the last reporting period. This major transport hub saw the highest numbers in multiple categories, including 227 violent offences, 247 drug crimes, 29 sexual offences, and a staggering 650 incidents involving theft of passengers' property.
London Dominates the Crime Rankings
Major London transport terminals unsurprisingly featured prominently in the statistics, though significant stations outside the capital also recorded concerning crime levels. The British Transport Police revealed that 30 stations across Britain had the highest number of crimes logged against them in 2024-25, reaching an overall total of nearly 18,000 offences – equivalent to approximately 50 crimes every single day.
Other London stations with particularly poor records included London Bridge, which had the worst statistics for weapons crimes (33 incidents) and robbery (37 incidents), along with the highest tally of public order offences at 141. Kings Cross followed closely behind Euston with 1,479 offences, while St Pancras International recorded 1,035 crimes.
Regional Stations Show Significant Problems
Beyond the capital, several major regional stations demonstrated substantial crime issues. Birmingham New Street recorded 958 offences and had the second-highest number of public order offences at 122. Manchester Piccadilly followed with 827 crimes, while Leeds station registered 574 offences and 117 public order incidents.
Other concerning regional statistics included Liverpool Lime Street (356 offences), Glasgow Central (327), Reading (324), and Wolverhampton (302). Reading station specifically saw the most bicycle thefts with 65 incidents, while Brighton recorded the highest number of graffiti incidents at 24.
Industry Response and Calls for Action
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey responded strongly to the statistics, stating: "These shocking stats underline the need for an increased presence of British Transport Police on our railways. Our members are being punched, threatened, spat at and abused simply for turning up to work and keeping the railway running."
Dempsey emphasized the psychological toll on staff and called for consistent police presence throughout the year, not just during major incidents. He referenced the horrific mass stabbing on a train diverted to Huntingdon station last year as a stark reminder of potential dangers faced by both rail staff and passengers.
Official Statements from Authorities
A Network Rail spokesperson offered reassurance, noting: "Millions of people pass through our stations every day, and the chances of becoming a victim of crime within one of them are incredibly low. Our stations are staffed throughout the day by dedicated teams on site, supported by regular patrols by the British Transport Police and extensive CCTV coverage."
The British Transport Police spokesperson added: "Every rail passenger has the right to a safe journey, and we are committed to protecting this right. We are continually working to raise public awareness of when and how to report crime, such as using our 61016 text-to-report service."
The Ten Worst-Performing Stations
- Euston (1,536 offences)
- Kings Cross (1,479 offences)
- London Bridge (1,074 offences)
- St Pancras International (1,035 offences)
- Birmingham New Street (958 offences)
- Paddington (852 offences)
- Manchester Piccadilly (827 offences)
- Waterloo (778 offences)
- Kings Cross St Pancras Underground (736 offences)
- Finsbury Park (626 offences)
Recent Incident Highlights Ongoing Concerns
The statistics follow a recent case where a thief who targeted a teenage girl in a terrifying attack at Manchester Piccadilly was locked up for 10 months. Fawzi Hamza, 25, approached the 15-year-old from behind and attempted to snatch her handbag, pushing and pulling her in front of horrified passengers at 4:30pm on 28 December 2024.
Members of the public rushed to intervene, while British Transport Officers stationed nearby were alerted and immediately moved in to arrest Hamza. He was subsequently jailed at Manchester Crown Court on June 24 last year after admitting attempted robbery at an earlier hearing.
Investigating officer DC Leonidas Christoforou commented: "This was an incredibly frightening incident for the young girl, who was left understandably shaken. We're very grateful to her for supporting our investigation, and to the members of public who came to her aid."
