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Original poster

To mention assault on 207 bus (Shepherds Bush, West London) this afternoon

37 replies

Tikitaka20 · 15/03/2026 19:47

Just wanted to post here about some antisocial behaviour I saw on the 207 bus going to Shepherds Bush. It happened between 4:40pm and 5:10pm - can’t remember exactly when. I’ve reported it to the Met Police online and told the bus driver.

Just reposting it here in case anyone was also there.

A female passenger on the bus top deck asked a male passenger to get his feet off the seats. He swore and shouted at her, calling her a bitch, and spat at her as she walked down the stairs to the bottom deck. He was really aggressive and it was quite scary. I witnessed it, as did several other passengers on the top deck.

OP posts:
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Buttercream101 · 18/03/2026 12:55

Tikitaka20 · 17/03/2026 22:55

I’m sorry but I don’t agree with that and can’t accept that. We shouldn’t put up with that. There are basic rules we all need to live by.

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OP sadly there are a lot of people who have severe mental health issues and aren't getting support or should be in jail but the type of 'low level' crimes they do won't be prosecuted or result in jail time. The problem has gone on for enough time for kids with crappy parents to become unruly themselves.

Sadly you do have to adjust. From my experience if you ask someone to turn there music down or whatever it is, even if you were extremely polite - there is a chance you will experience a wave of high level aggression back. The best thing is to adjust your expectations and not even go there.

Unless that is you are 6ft 5 and built like a tank / a ninja / an off duty police man. Otherwise save your battles for something big.

As an example I nicely asked a teenager not to feed my dog a chicken bone as it might kill them and in return he threatened to 'shank me.' Then said I was being racist when I said to my partner he might have a knife despite being the one to threaten the stabbing....

Honestly it's a Wild West world out there. I'm not afraid of confrontation but I've had to realise it's not worth the agro most of the time.

I try to only intervene if someone is being abusive to someone else these days.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 17/03/2026 23:10

smallglassbottle · 17/03/2026 23:03

Then we'll have to learn to accept the consequences. It's only going to get worse. There's a big strata of feral kids driving teachers out of their jobs and people seem to be becoming more aggressive now.

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Well, our government and all of us - as citizens, colleagues, parents, family members, friends and in the different roles and social groups we have - need to get involved to stop it from getting worse and actively improving it.

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Bakedbertie · 17/03/2026 23:09

Tikitaka20 · 17/03/2026 22:55

I’m sorry but I don’t agree with that and can’t accept that. We shouldn’t put up with that. There are basic rules we all need to live by.

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I agree and believe we need more safety officers on public transport. It’s like the Wild West and for how much we pay for it in this country I feel it needs to be safer and cleaner too for that matter.

smallglassbottle · 17/03/2026 23:03

Tikitaka20 · 17/03/2026 22:55

I’m sorry but I don’t agree with that and can’t accept that. We shouldn’t put up with that. There are basic rules we all need to live by.

Show quote history

Then we'll have to learn to accept the consequences. It's only going to get worse. There's a big strata of feral kids driving teachers out of their jobs and people seem to be becoming more aggressive now.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 17/03/2026 22:55

smallglassbottle · 17/03/2026 11:52

Unfortunately, we all need to accept that society has permanently changed and we need to keep ourselves safe by lowering and adjusting our expectations of others. We're just causing ourselves grief and upset by expecting others to behave how we want them to.

I’m sorry but I don’t agree with that and can’t accept that. We shouldn’t put up with that. There are basic rules we all need to live by.

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 17/03/2026 11:52

Unfortunately, we all need to accept that society has permanently changed and we need to keep ourselves safe by lowering and adjusting our expectations of others. We're just causing ourselves grief and upset by expecting others to behave how we want them to.

BillieWiper · 17/03/2026 11:47

COYG69 · 15/03/2026 21:33

not all just a likelihood based on per capita stats

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That's not how statistics work.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 15:50

ExBert80 · 16/03/2026 15:08

Spitting is classed as an assault I think but he would get a slap on the wrist at best if located.

We talk a lot about the social contract and we all have our part to play, but a lot of people genuinely don’t know how to behave in public. One half of me thinks its not too late to stop civilisation becoming defunct, but the other half of me says its too late. There is something very wrong in the UK at the moment, possibly forever now. Dickheads used to be in the minority but it is moving to them being the majority.

I agree that spitting would be classed as an assault and that, if caught, he’ll get a talking to and nothing more. I hope at least he’ll be on the police’s radar though - that is the most important thing for me.

I think the passenger who spat on the woman did know how to behave in public, because after he swore and shouted at her, other passengers called him out and he paused and then spat at her. I think he’s just filled with rage and he takes it out on people who call him out on his behaviour.

I’m sure there are many reasons why our social contract feels broken, but for me, two big possible reasons are the behaviour of people in power (eg Trump and - in previous years- Boris Johnson) and the effect of the Covid lockdowns and the cost of living. Most of us spent much more time at home than usual during lockdown, and are also spending more time at home dhe to the high cost of living. At home we can generally behave how we like without disturbing others, but people are now bringing that behaviour into public spaces and it is often really inconsiderate.

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ExBert80 · 16/03/2026 15:08

Spitting is classed as an assault I think but he would get a slap on the wrist at best if located.

We talk a lot about the social contract and we all have our part to play, but a lot of people genuinely don’t know how to behave in public. One half of me thinks its not too late to stop civilisation becoming defunct, but the other half of me says its too late. There is something very wrong in the UK at the moment, possibly forever now. Dickheads used to be in the minority but it is moving to them being the majority.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 14:32

BillieWiper · 16/03/2026 14:27

I think they must also put up adverts/signs on the busses and transport hubs near where it happened. Showing his picture and asking for him or anyone with info to come forward.

Hopefully that will happen!

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BillieWiper · 16/03/2026 14:27

I think they must also put up adverts/signs on the busses and transport hubs near where it happened. Showing his picture and asking for him or anyone with info to come forward.

BillieWiper · 16/03/2026 13:24

Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 13:04

I totally agree. Spitting is so aggressive and invasive, isn’t it. I’m really hoping the police catch the man - I’ll try and keep you updated on this as much as I can. Out of curiosity, does anyone know how police go about trying to find suspects identified on cameras on public transport? I can’t imagine it’s easy.

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I guess they spread it out to local media, social and traditional. They do these pleas for witnesses about things don't they quite a lot.

Relying hopefully on someone or several people who knows the person to be horrible saying they know their ID etc.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 13:04

BillieWiper · 16/03/2026 12:54

Yeah you're right. It's just so sad really that people could spit at someone? I mean even just say 'no, piss off' and just don't do what they say if you wanna be an arsehole but spitting is assault and absolutely vile.

Let's hope he is caught. The cameras on busses are quite good now.

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I totally agree. Spitting is so aggressive and invasive, isn’t it. I’m really hoping the police catch the man - I’ll try and keep you updated on this as much as I can. Out of curiosity, does anyone know how police go about trying to find suspects identified on cameras on public transport? I can’t imagine it’s easy.

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BillieWiper · 16/03/2026 12:54

Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 12:48

I agree with you that you can’t predict the level of aggression you’ll get for challenging someone in these situations.

I feel awful that the woman was spat on and sworn at - that should never have happened.

However, I’m very very glad that the woman was brave enough to speak up to that man. Not only because it’s good civic behaviour but also because she and several other passengers witnessed the man’s subsequent behaviour.

Since I - and hopefully other passengers- reported his behaviour, I’m hoping he’ll be found by the police and cautioned. He should never have behaved as he did. But his behaviour on the bus - in full view of several passengers - suggests to me that he will behave worse in future. Given this, the woman’s bravery in calling him out has hopefully meant that he’ll be on the police’s radar now, should his behaviour escalate in future.

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Yeah you're right. It's just so sad really that people could spit at someone? I mean even just say 'no, piss off' and just don't do what they say if you wanna be an arsehole but spitting is assault and absolutely vile.

Let's hope he is caught. The cameras on busses are quite good now.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 12:49

ExBert80 · 16/03/2026 12:21

Being on edge on London public transport is my default settings these days. I am now planning to leave London because it just wears you down. There are dickheads everywhere but I am so over London because of it. Not transport, but on a bus looking out at a bus stop, saw someone trashing the front of a central London Tesco Express this morning. Kicking off, damaging the doors and security barriers.

That’s awful - I’m sorry to hear it. I hope we don’t become like America, where public transport is often badly managed and not often used, partly because people see it as dangerous. I really want the London mayor to crack down on bad passenger behaviour.

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Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 12:48

BillieWiper · 16/03/2026 11:08

I guess you can't exactly predict the level of aggression you'll get for confronting those who break the rules.

But ultimately they don't care much about society or how people see them else they wouldn't be disobeying perfectly reasonable rules in the first place. So someone like that is more likely to have zero filter when it comes to rudeness or even resorting to assault.

Basically I guess I feel like I kind of wish she hadn't said anything to him. That's awful isn't it? It almost sounds like victims blaming. But to be spat on is not worth a seat on a bus.

I agree with you that you can’t predict the level of aggression you’ll get for challenging someone in these situations.

I feel awful that the woman was spat on and sworn at - that should never have happened.

However, I’m very very glad that the woman was brave enough to speak up to that man. Not only because it’s good civic behaviour but also because she and several other passengers witnessed the man’s subsequent behaviour.

Since I - and hopefully other passengers- reported his behaviour, I’m hoping he’ll be found by the police and cautioned. He should never have behaved as he did. But his behaviour on the bus - in full view of several passengers - suggests to me that he will behave worse in future. Given this, the woman’s bravery in calling him out has hopefully meant that he’ll be on the police’s radar now, should his behaviour escalate in future.

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ExBert80 · 16/03/2026 12:21

Being on edge on London public transport is my default settings these days. I am now planning to leave London because it just wears you down. There are dickheads everywhere but I am so over London because of it. Not transport, but on a bus looking out at a bus stop, saw someone trashing the front of a central London Tesco Express this morning. Kicking off, damaging the doors and security barriers.

BillieWiper · 16/03/2026 11:08

I guess you can't exactly predict the level of aggression you'll get for confronting those who break the rules.

But ultimately they don't care much about society or how people see them else they wouldn't be disobeying perfectly reasonable rules in the first place. So someone like that is more likely to have zero filter when it comes to rudeness or even resorting to assault.

Basically I guess I feel like I kind of wish she hadn't said anything to him. That's awful isn't it? It almost sounds like victims blaming. But to be spat on is not worth a seat on a bus.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 16/03/2026 11:01

Tikitaka20 · 15/03/2026 23:45

100%. The other passengers did a great job of standing up to him. I wish I’d got a photo of him and of the bus number plate. I’ll remember that in case anything like this ever happens again, although I’m really hoping it won’t. Anyone know what are the chances of the police finding him?

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I’ve just checked my phone photos and, luckily, have the details of the bus number plate in another photo I took.

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Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 15/03/2026 23:45

TropicalRain · 15/03/2026 22:05

We need to all agree to stand up against this type of thing, the man could not have got away with it if other passengers literally stood up to him also.

100%. The other passengers did a great job of standing up to him. I wish I’d got a photo of him and of the bus number plate. I’ll remember that in case anything like this ever happens again, although I’m really hoping it won’t. Anyone know what are the chances of the police finding him?

OP posts:
TropicalRain · 15/03/2026 22:05

We need to all agree to stand up against this type of thing, the man could not have got away with it if other passengers literally stood up to him also.

Original poster
Tikitaka20 · 15/03/2026 21:58

Right - thanks all. I’ve got my fingers crossed that something positive will come out of this awful situation and that the police will find the man responsible for assaulting the woman.

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COYG69 · 15/03/2026 21:52

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ScarlettSarah · 15/03/2026 21:45

Awful behaviour. That sounds fairly nearby to us. Hope they do something about it.