Teens travelling on London tubes and buses - how safe is it?

[stirling]

I let dd (nearly 15) go to the West End a few times by tube over the holidays. Thought it was time to let her be independent.

But last week I read about two girls being attacked (unprovoked) by a teenage gang in my area _ early evening.
Then I read about the man on the tube with a machete. Lots of unprovoked attacks even if you're not 'looking' at the attacker.

Her dad (my ex) says random attacks are increasingly common. I'm worried but meanwhile she's ready to go again, and again.
I've said no for this weekend and she's crying in her room.
Feeling awful. I used to go out on public transport in my teens all the time.

These are not late night events, just day trips....

Bumping for you x

I always find these “how safe is london” threads really weird. Its a huge city, many many people live there without any issue and areas are perfectly safe.

the incidents you describe are very unusual and vanishingly unlikely to happen to her. Street theft is an issue so don’t walk around with your phone in your hand in old street or Leicester Square but actual dangerous attacks are very unusual

There are 5 million passenger journeys A DAY on the Tube. The odds are vanishingly tiny. Even tinier if she is sensible, travels with at least one other and knows what to do in an emergency.

I lived in London for 20 years and have never felt unsafe on the tube. It's too darn busy for random attacks to happen Willy Billy and there's safety in numbers.

You can live a risk free life by not doing anything but what a shit life that would be.

Hundreds of thousands of people use public transport daily in London. Just like smaller amounts of people use public transport elsewhere outside of London in smaller towns and cities.
If it's this weekend in London I'd say no too. There'll be an intensity in the burbs.

It's as safe as any public transport system, given the number of journeys made every day.

Remind her to have her wits about her and be observant - not be engrossed in her phone and not wear earphones; just as when out and about in the street I would say.

Oh yes @Westfacing there's that too. Street wise is a good skill and should be practiced. We live in inner London.

Not sure where you live but banning your teenager from public transport seems really unfair. At night I would be protective at this age but most London kids use public transport independently from 11. Street smarts is a good idea - help her build up to more independence by reflecting on safe behaviour.

Bar those who walk, pretty well every 12 year old Londoner will take public transport to and from school.

Make her be more "streetwise", don't walk around with bag open, phone out, walk confidently & tall, etc. You can wear earpods but be observant; look who is around you, read other peoples behaviour & if slightly unsure about something then no shame in getting off tube before next stop etc.

I've witnessed countless thefts & it's normally because the victim is distracted or oblivious.

And if they do get threatened just hand everything over.

You have to take the risk imo or you risk instead raising an anxious child or limiting her horizons and natural need for independence with her peers.

I lived in London for 10 years and never felt unsafe either on the Tube or walking around. The odds of a random attack are tiny.
let her go but go through emergency stuff, being sensible. These are brilliant skills for a 15yo to practise

no shame in getting off tube before next stop

If you did manage to force the doors open and jump off, it would be very painful.

She's probably a bit old but some martial arts/general fitness may help her feel more confident, as a girl she's more likely to have unwanted attention whereas ime boys are more often mugged.

I did quite a bit of boxing as a dc but I did grow up in what was then quite a rough part of London.

@Ifailed I meant correct stop!

Also, remind teens that if they ever find themselves without their travelcard or means to pay and they're far from home or in any way distressed, they should speak to staff and they will be allowed to travel.

There'll be an intensity in the burbs.

what does this mean?

As hard as it is for parents, teenagers only learn to be safer in the world by letting them have some independence.

My child has travelled alone across London on the underground to school every day since he turned 10. When there’s a tube strike, he has to get the bus! We wouldn’t get anywhere in life if all we did was worry!

I always feel safe on public transport but not so much the walk home especially later/in the dark. But unless we stay indoors permanently then there's no avoiding walking around of course. I don't think public transport makes it any more dangerous as something could happen walking home from school too. There have been some muggings in the local shopping areas recently (teen gangs in particular) but generally random attacks are extremely rare.

Thanks for all the replies. Very reassuring and helpful to be grounded. I'm glad I posted.

Sometimes, when you're so caugh up in fear, you can't see reason

I think you will do far more harm in banning the poor girl just when she wants some independence

For me, it would depend on what she wanted to do, who with and until what time. I don't live in London, I live fairly rurally so the norm for me is jumping in the car to give a lift but I can imagine what I'd do living where you live

At 14, nearly 15, id allow travel at sensible times and like I said, a big factor would be where she's going. I'd stress on her to always find a staff member if concerned about anything and always have a fully charged phone on her

i worry too but in all honesty I think they safer in london where it is busy and they have a lot to do than hanging around in the local park where they more likely to be drinking and experimenting. I let my daughter start going up at 15 and she has been ok though does push and push the time to come home. I worry more when it’s the summer and loads of them hang out in local park.