Police operations see London rail robberies drop by 35%

Rates of robbery on the London rail network during the winter months are down for a second successive year, decreasing by over a third compared to 2023/24, following intensified British Transport Police (BTP) patrols and targeted operations.

A noticeable rise in reports of robbery in the 2023/24 policing year saw 760 robberies committed between November and February on the railway across London and South-East England.

In response, over the past two years BTP made tackling robbery a top priority. Driven by intelligence and crime reporting trends, the force has been conducting high-visibility operations and plain-clothes patrols across London and has further improved how robbery reports are investigated to ensure justice is secured for victims.

As a result of the work put in over the years, rates of reported robberies during the winter months dropped to 535 between November and February of 2024/25, before dropping again to 493 in 2025/26 – a decrease of over 35% compared to two years ago.

While rates of robberies have decreased, rates for those arrested for robbery have increased. In the 2025/26 policing year, 462 people have been arrested across BTP for robbery - a 26% increase compared to the 2024/25 policing year.

Throughout the winter months, from November to February and when robbery rates on the railway network are typically at their highest due to shorter, darker days, BTP engaged in dozens of targeted patrols and operations guided by intelligence to ensure our officers were in the right locations at the right times to deter and respond to crime.

During the February half-term, 16th-22nd February, officers conducted highly visible operations throughout London and attended the home addresses of 12 suspects, mostly teenagers, who were wanted for robbery.

Eight suspected robbers were arrested following visits to their home addresses, including two 17-year-old boys linked to a series of robberies in June and July 2025.

A 16-year-old boy was also arrested during half-term, suspected of robbing a man, who was with his wife and young children, at Marble Arch Underground station on 27 December.

An 18-year-old man was arrested in connection to an incident whereby a 13-year-old boy was robbed at knifepoint at Swiss Cottage Underground station on 17th January.

Five more teenagers were arrested Chafford Hundred railway station on Monday 16th February after a teenage boy was robbed. Officers immediately attended the station and arrested the five teenagers, aged 15 to 16, and the victim was reunited with their stolen belongings.

On the same week, Live Facial Recognition (LFR) was deployed during an operation at Euston railway station to aid in the efforts to identify and apprehend individuals wanted for violent robberies and to take advantage of new available technology to help catch wanted criminals.

BTP Superintendent John Loveless said: ‘‘I’m pleased to see that the work of our officers and detectives is continuing to pay off, and that the rates of robbery in London and surrounding areas are down for a second successive year during a time of the year which has typically been the peak for robberies.

‘‘There is plenty more work to be done, and every robbery committed is one too many, so the public will continue to see our highly visible patrols of uniformed officers at stations across London throughout the year, supported by our specially trained officers in plain clothes.

‘‘We will also continue to utilise specialist assets, such as knife arches and search dogs, and take advantage of new technologies like LFR, but our most potent source of information remains the travelling public.

‘‘I urge anyone who witnesses a robbery, or is themselves a victim of a robbery, to report it to us by speaking to an officer or a member of staff, or you can discreetly text us on 61016.

‘‘In an emergency, always dial 999.’’