A quiet ride home turned into something straight out of a nightmare for one London Underground passenger.
What began as just another post-work journey on the Victoria Line quickly spiraled into something far more disturbing—when a man, right in front of everyone, began smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine in broad daylight.
According to the witness, the man’s erratic behavior caught attention only after nearby passengers started moving away quickly.
At first, it seemed like they were just avoiding an unpleasant smell.
But then came the horrifying realization—this wasn’t just a case of poor hygiene.
The man was openly lighting a metal pipe, seemingly without a care in the world.
“Dude, No—You Can’t Do That Here”
Trying to make sense of the bizarre scene, the commuter confronted the man briefly.
“I thought he was just drunk at first,” the Reddit user shared.
“So I said, ‘Dude, no—you can’t do that here,’ and that’s when I realized he was trying to smoke crack.”
The man, described as scruffy and clearly under the influence, wasn’t just high—he was zoning out, wearing a vacant grin, and even spitting on the floor.
The mood in the carriage shifted fast.
Other riders, especially women, looked visibly uncomfortable and frightened.
Rather than escalate the situation, the witness decided it was safer to move to another part of the train like everyone else.
Familiar to Staff, Ignored by the System
When the passenger got off the train, he immediately reported the incident to a TfL staff member.
But the response was discouraging. “He basically told me they couldn’t do much,” the commuter recalled.
“The guy is apparently a regular problem—they get complaints about him every couple of days and even know him by name.”
This wasn’t an isolated case. British Transport Police (BTP) later confirmed they had seen the Reddit post and condemned the behavior, urging people to report such incidents through their official channels.
However, the Reddit user wasn’t optimistic. “Even the police don’t seem interested. They’d arrest him, put him in a cell for a bit, then release him again.”
Rising Crime Stats: London’s Tube Under Pressure
Sadly, this isn’t just one strange episode.
Data from Transport for London (TfL) and British Transport Police shows crime on the Underground has been rising for years.
Since Sadiq Khan became Mayor in 2016, violent crime has steadily increased.
In 2016, there were around nine crimes per million Tube journeys.
By March 2023, that number had surged to nearly 25.
The Overground, DLR, and newer Elizabeth Line have also seen similar spikes.
Poplar Station on the DLR was flagged as the worst for crime per capita, with nearly 59 offences per million passengers.
During the first three months of 2024 alone, over 6,300 crimes were reported—that’s more than 70 incidents every day.
Shocking Acts Caught on Camera
Disturbing videos circulating online show the situation is escalating fast.
A stabbing at Edgware Road in November 2023 involved a 17-year-old wielding a machete in broad daylight.
Footage shows the teen repeatedly slashing at a victim as bystanders watched in terror.
Another clip from Green Park in January 2024 captured Liban Ahmed, 27, whipping a woman across the face with a belt.
He was later sentenced to 18 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months.
Then in February, a chilling moment unfolded at Oxford Circus when a homeless man shoved an unsuspecting commuter onto the tracks just seconds before a train arrived.
He was later convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Chaos for Clout and Hate on the Rails
Not all the violence has been random.
A disturbing social media trend known as “chaos for clout” led to one woman filming herself attacking passengers and shop workers across London last year.
One video showed her assaulting another woman on the Bakerloo line.
Anti-Semitic incidents are also being reported more frequently.
One passenger described a moment when a man wearing a kippah was verbally attacked on the Northern Line by someone vaping who shouted, “Your religion is killing Muslims.”
Public Outrage Grows: “Is This Normal Now?”
As more people come forward with their own Tube horror stories, frustration is mounting.
One Reddit commenter wrote: “I feel for addicts, but this is too far. I shouldn’t be inhaling crack smoke on my commute.”
Another rider who had a similar run-in said the staff reaction was a mere shrug: “Don’t blame them, but Jesus Christ—is this what things are like now?”
TfL says they’re working with police and outreach teams to support vulnerable individuals and improve safety.
“We want all our customers to feel safe,” a spokesperson said.
“And we understand how upsetting this kind of behavior can be.”
What’s Next for London’s Public Transport?
As crime continues to rise and more videos go viral, many Londoners are left asking: what is being done to protect passengers?
While officials say they’re working on it, those who use the system daily aren’t convinced things are improving.
With over 70 reported crimes a day, including violent assaults, attempted murders, and drug use on full display, the public’s trust in the safety of the Underground is being tested like never before.
