Union backs calls for new Crime and Policing Bill to cover targeted assaults on ALL transport workers including taxi and PHV drivers
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The GMB Union has called for a new standalone criminal offence covering assaults on transport workers, aligning with demands raised at the London Assembly Transport Committee amid mounting evidence of abuse across the sector.
The union said current legislative proposals fail to recognise the scale of violence faced by transport staff, despite provisions within the Crime and Policing Bill that would introduce a specific offence for assaults on retail workers, carrying a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Transport workers, including taxi and private hire drivers, are not currently afforded equivalent protection.
The GMB is urging policymakers to expand the scope of the proposed law to include workers across public transport and aviation, citing consistent exposure to violence and aggression in frontline roles. The move reflects broader industry concerns about staff safety, particularly in customer-facing environments.
Data from Transport for London (TfL) highlights the scale of the issue in the capital. The authority records an average of around 200 incidents of work-related violence and aggression against its staff every week. These incidents span multiple modes of transport, including buses, trains and stations, and are considered a persistent operational risk.
GMB union backs London Assembly push to extend legal protections amid rising violence across transport sectors
Further figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request to the Metropolitan Police revealed 142 alleged assaults against taxi and private hire drivers in London over a six-month period between November 2023 and May 2024. Industry representatives argue that such incidents are likely underreported, suggesting the true scale may be higher.
A recent GMB survey of airport workers found that 88 per cent of respondents had experienced abuse while at work. Incidents were reported across multiple touchpoints including check-in desks, aircraft cabins, and ground transport connections, indicating a systemic challenge across the wider travel ecosystem.
The union said the frequency of such incidents means abuse is no longer an occasional risk but an expected part of the job for many workers. It argues that introducing a specific offence would act as both a deterrent and a signal that violence against transport staff is being taken seriously by lawmakers.
Steve Garelick, GMB Regional Organiser, said: "The scale of violence and aggression against transport workers is staggering.
"Sadly, we hear from members that it has become an expected part of the job.
“As a union with thousands of members in the retail sector, we welcome the provision made in the bill to cover those people working in retail as a new standalone offence, but we believe this should be extended to cover other frontline workers in transport too.
"Those who abuse transport workers cannot be allowed to act with impunity any longer."
