Tube safety

Safety and security on Tube network The Tube is one of the safest ways to travel with just 12 crimes for every million passenger journeys.

We are continuing to invest in practical measures and improvements to make the Tube network as safe and secure as possible.

Customer Service staff
Help points
Passenger alarms
CCTV
New trains
Waiting rooms
British Transport Police
How you can help

Customer Service Staff

Our stations are always staffed, from the first to the last train, giving a visible and reassuring presence and offering help and advice to passengers. Every train is managed by a train operator who can call immediately for assistance. Teams of Revenue Control inspectors who work on trains and stations, ensuring customers have the correct tickets or passes for their journey, also provide customer information and can help in case of emergency or if you need assistance..

Our staff are trained to deal with any situation so relevant assistance will always be provided at the station in case of emergency. Regular exercises are held to continually improve our evacuation procedures.

Please follow their advice during emergency situations.

Help points

Help points give you updated service information and allow you to activate the fire alarm or summon help in an emergency. They are located in many ticket hall areas, walkways and platforms. there are more than 1 500 across the network with more being added.

They have:

A red fire alarm
A green emergency button to report disturbances, train or station vandalism, unattended packages or suspicious activity and to summon help in emergencies. Pressing the green emergency button connects you to the station control room or the police if station staff are not available within 30 seconds
A blue information button which you can use to get up to date travel information and to ask about station facilities
Most help points have induction loops for customers who use hearing aids

Passenger alarms

Passenger alarms are located at eye-level in carriages near the double doors.

The Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines have talk back facilities built into the alarms. This will be available on all trains by 2015 except the Bakerloo line, which is programmed for upgrade by 2020.

CCTV

More than 12, 000 CCTV cameras cover London Underground stations, ticket hall areas, walkways, platforms and trains with more being fitted as part of our investment and refurbishment programmes.

New Trains

Trains being introduced on many London Underground lines will help to improve safety and security.

The District, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo and City lines already have on-board CCTV and this is also a feature of the new Victoria line trains currently being introduced.

New trains on the 'sub-surface railway' - the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines - will also have CCTV and walk-through carriages to give passengers easier movement through the train and a better view of the full length of the train. These new trains will start to be introduced on the Metropolitan line this year, followed by the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines and then the District line.

Waiting rooms

Waiting rooms provide a comfortable and safe area in for you to wait for your train. We're upgrading waiting rooms at selected stations as part of our investment and refurbishment programme

British Transport Police (BTP)

More than 700 BTP officers patrol the Tube network and the DLR, working with other police forces and the fire and ambulance services to maintain the high standard of safety and security on the Underground. Here are some BTP tips:

How you can help

Report any unattended bags, luggage or suspicious activity immediately to a member of staff, a police officer or use the green emergency button on the station Help point.
Keep your belongings with you at all times - this helps avoid unnecessary security alerts and delays
Follow the instructions of staff in the event of any emergency - they are trained to keep you safe
In an emergency, if you are on board a train, use the passenger emergency alarm, move away from any immediate danger, remain calm, open windows for ventilation and await instruction from a member of staff or the emergency services
It is safer to remain on the train unless instructed to leave by staff or emergency services. Emergency lighting is provided on all trains but it may be useful to use your mobile as an additional source of light
Evacuate the station immediately when asked to do so. Station staff will help you if you have a disability or need assistance
On the train, only use the passenger alarm in a real emergency (eg if someone collapses). If any part of the train is at the platform, the train will stop. If the train is between stations, the driver will continue to the next station where assistance will be available
Don't board the train if you feel unwell
If you feel unwell while you are on the train open the end car windows or operate the slide mechanism above the seats to increase ventilation. Remove outdoor clothing/jackets. Leave the train at the next station
Give up your seat to anyone needing it, especially older or disabled customers and pregnant women
Carry water with you in hot weather
Don't leave litter - use the bins or take it home
Don't smoke or drink alcohol anywhere on the Underground
Don't use flash photography