Surge in assaults on London Underground staff - up by 44% in last five years

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Tube workers are facing increasing abuse from angry passengers, according to new figures.

The number of 'assaults' on Underground staff has risen 44% in the last five years.

London Underground said the figures included verbal assaults and claimed the number of physical attacks had fallen.

Transport for London's annual Health and Safety report showed 2,753 assaults in 2013/14 compared with 1,917 in 2009/10.

Credit: PA

LU said the increase was partly due to a new policy of encouraging staff to report verbal abuse.

But Labour claimed the statistics raised worrying questions about staff and passenger safety when the 24-hour Night Tube begins in September.

Underground managers insisted there would be enough staff and police on duty to make the Night Tube safe.