New figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) indicate a significant rise in reported assaults across Britain’s railway network. According to the data, there were 13,464 reported incidents involving passengers and the public in the 2025-26 period, representing a 36% increase compared to the previous year. When combined with incidents involving rail staff, the total number of reported assaults has climbed to nearly 25,000, the highest volume recorded since the ORR began monitoring these statistics in 2004.

The rise in reported incidents has prompted a response from labor unions, who argue that the data underscores a critical need for increased staffing levels and enhanced police presence on the network. While both the BBC and The Guardian report the 36% increase, they differ in their emphasis. The BBC focuses on the percentage growth as the primary indicator of the trend, whereas The Guardian highlights the record-breaking total of 25,000 incidents and explicitly links the findings to union advocacy for policy changes. The data serves as an official acknowledgment of the growing security concerns facing both commuters and employees within the transport sector.