Only one in every 650 London bus stops has CCTV
Only one in every 650 London bus stops has CCTV
Nick GutteridgeSun, July 26, 2026 at 5:30 AM UTC
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About 0.15 per cent of London’s bus stops are fitted with CCTV - Rii Schroer
Only one in every 650 bus stops in London has CCTV despite Sir Sadiq Khan pledging more than two years ago to roll out cameras to tackle violence against women.
New figures released under freedom of information laws show that only 30 out of the capital’s 19,500 bus shelters are fitted with CCTV.
The Tories said the figures, equating to only 0.15 per cent of bus stops, were “shocking” and came at a time when “increasing numbers” of Londoners were “afraid” to use the network because of crime.
Sir Sadiq vowed in his manifesto for the 2024 mayoral election to roll out “increased CCTV on bus shelters” to make passengers safer and bring criminals to justice.
Figures released by the Greater London Assembly (GLA) in February showed the solved rate for crimes committed on the capital’s bus network had more than halved from 22 per cent in 2016, when Sir Sadiq became mayor, to just 8 per cent last year.
During the same period, security cameras have been installed on only 30 bus stops as part of a pilot programme led by Transport for London (TfL).
Sir Sadiq made tackling violence against women a key manifesto pledge in 2024 - Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Richard Holden, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Buses are an essential, affordable form of transport for many whilst helping cut air pollution.
“But Mayor Khan has allowed crime on London’s bus network to go unpunished, making increasing numbers of people afraid to use them.
“CCTV cameras at bus stops make people feel safer and can help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Shockingly, under Mayor Khan, there are just 30 bus stops with CCTV cameras out of a possible 19,500.
“It’s clear we need CCTV covering more bus stops and by making them safer, we can bring confidence back to passengers, especially women, girls and young people, and get Britain moving again.”
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Cameras are installed on every London bus and at larger bus stations, and are also widely used on other public transport such as the Underground and trains.
A scheme to roll out surveillance at bus stops was first launched in 2024 when the first 20 sites were selected, and a further 10 added earlier this year.
GLA figures show that Croydon has the most cameras, with four, followed by Westminster, Southwark and Camden with three each.
In an update last summer, TfL said the programme was having a “very, very positive impact” on the safety of women and girls.
In a survey of 1,000 women, four in five said CCTV made them feel safer and almost three quarters said that it would mean they were more likely to travel by bus.
GLA figures show that there were 3,924 crimes recorded on London’s bus network in 2025, more than on any other form of public transport in the capital.
Sir Sadiq was handed a peerage by Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month, and will become Lord Khan when Parliament returns from recess.
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security, policing and enforcement, said: “We’re determined to ensure that everyone in the capital can travel safely, and a safe and secure bus network is a key part of this.
“We are currently trialling CCTV at a small number of bus stops across London to better understand the benefits it can provide. The results of this trial will be used to evaluate the costs and the feasibility of a wider introduction of CCTV cameras to other locations in London.
“All of London’s buses and bus stations are fully equipped with CCTV to help keep customers and staff safe. London’s bus network is also patrolled by TfL’s 300 transport support and enforcement operational officers who provide a visible and reassuring presence.
“One hundred more officers are being recruited this year to keep the night bus network safe. We’ll continue to work closely with the police and our other partners to ensure all Londoners can continue to rely on a safe, low-crime bus network around the clock.”
Source: “AOL Breaking”
