Tube drug use falls for first time in three years

The number of incidents of drug use on London Underground has fallen for the first time in three years, figures show.

The British Transport Police (BTP) recorded 470 incidents in 2024-25, down from 589 the previous year.

The data, released by Transport for London (TfL) in response to a Freedom of Information request, recorded 63 instances of white powder or substance in its drug log and 56 reports of cannabis.

TfL said it was "committed to reducing crime across our network" and was working with its policing partners to keep customers and colleagues safe as they travel and work.

Hammersmith station had the most incidents recorded, at seven, followed by Oxford Circus, with four.

The number of drug use incidents recorded in 2020-21 was 526. In 2021-22, there were 390 drug use incidents, rising to 506 in 2022-23.

TfL added: "We have a large team of police officers and police community support officers as well as our own enforcement staff patrolling the network at all times to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, alongside operations to target offenders and hotspot locations."

The BTP said while the statistics were pleasing there was more work to be done, adding it "routinely conducted operations at transport hubs and hotspots, guided by intelligence, to disrupt county lines, seize drugs, and arrest offenders who make a living exploiting the vulnerable".

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