Transport for London is facing a monumental battle against graffiti vandals, with passenger complaints on the London Underground network skyrocketing by an astonishing 2,000 per cent in just one year. The transport authority has been forced to adopt a strict "zero-tolerance approach" to tackle the escalating issue, which is now consuming £11 million annually in cleaning costs alone.
A Staggering Surge in Passenger Complaints
Official figures reveal a dramatic rise in reports from frustrated travellers. In 2025, TfL received 364 complaints specifically about graffiti, a shocking increase from the mere 18 complaints recorded in both 2023 and 2024. This represents one of the most significant spikes in passenger dissatisfaction related to network conditions in recent memory.
Central and Bakerloo Lines Bear the Brunt
The data highlights that certain lines are being disproportionately targeted. The Central line emerged as the worst affected, accounting for almost half of all complaints with a total of 159 reports. Close behind was the Bakerloo line, which attracted 77 complaints, followed by the District line with 22. This pattern indicates a concentrated problem on specific parts of the network.
Criminal Damage Now a Major Network Crime
A report presented to TfL's safety and security panel underscores the severity of the situation. It found that criminal damage, predominantly graffiti, has seen the greatest increase out of all crime categories during the latter half of 2026. In line with the complaint surge, reported criminal damage offences have doubled, with an additional 1,452 incidents compared to the prior six-month period.
Perhaps more alarmingly, the same document revealed that criminal damage now constitutes 12 per cent of all reported crime on the TfL network, a substantial rise from just five per cent previously. This shift marks graffiti and vandalism as a primary security concern for the transport body.
TfL's Multi-Million Pound Response
In response to the crisis, TfL Commissioner Andy Lord announced in December that the organisation is now dedicating £11 million per year to cleaning graffiti from trains and stations. This significant financial commitment forms part of a broader, comprehensive strategy to combat the problem.
A TfL case officer, responding to a Freedom of Information request, stated: "Graffiti vandals targeting London’s transport network cause enormous damage. Graffiti requires removal and repair and can make customers feel unsafe."
The officer outlined the dual-pronged approach: "We have a comprehensive response in place to address graffiti. Both as a robust security response and a programme of removal. We know that there was an increase in graffiti vandalism last year, especially on the Bakerloo and Central lines, and we took action to address the increase as quickly and comprehensively as possible."
Ongoing Efforts and Collaboration
TfL insists that its detailed action plan is yielding results. The authority reports that thousands of graffiti tags are being removed each week across the network. Furthermore, a key component of the strategy involves close collaboration with the British Transport Police to both prevent future incidents and pursue offenders retrospectively.
"We continue to follow a detailed plan to address this graffiti and to prevent future vandalism and have seen significant reductions," the TfL officer added, indicating a long-term commitment to reclaiming the network from vandals and restoring passenger confidence.
