Over 2,000 attacks on the Tube

More than 2,000 passengers were assaulted on the Tube in the last year.

British Transport Police (BTP) recorded 2,022 attacks, half of which were common assaults. More than 800 involved actual bodily harm and 20 grievous bodily harm. There were 135 raciallymotivated attacks.

Transport minister Tony McNulty released the figures, for the period from 1 March 2004 to 28 February this year, in response to a parliamentary written question from Labour MP Jim Cunningham.

A London Underground spokesman said Mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London had funded the recruitment of an extra 200 BTP officers for the Tube over the past two years, an increase of 50 per cent.

He added: "The safety of passengers and staff is our priority. Last year crime on the Tube remained stable.

"A recent joint London Underground and BTP initiative on the east end of the District line cut crime and anti-social behaviour by up to a third."