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....

It’s very normal for London kids to get the bus or tube to school unaccompanied from Y7, so 11 years old. And if an unprovoked attack happened in your area, how does that make it more dangerous to go to London?! Presumably you still let her go out by herself near home in spite of that? She sounds sensible, she’s done it before successfully, I think you’re being unfair to say she can’t go. Although I understand the worry isn’t always rational.

I'd talk about being aware of her surroundings (not buried in her phone).

To trust her instincts, it's not rude to decline to talk to somebody (I had some difficult journeys when strange men started talking to me, and I didn't know how to get out of talking to them).

What to do if there is a problem- e.g. bag stolen, major incident shuts tube. Know your phone number off by heart in case her phone is stolen.

As long as she knows the above, I'd think it's ok.

Travelling by car also has risks, which we often don't think about.

YABU not to let her take the tube! Plenty of secondary age children use London public transport unaccompanied to get to school.

Are young teens in Eser, England safe riding the bus to school an hour away?