A man was seen openly smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine on a busy London Underground train, in a disturbing incident that has sparked concerns over the capital’s spiralling crime rates. The alarming scene was described in detail by a Reddit user who encountered the man during an evening commute.

According to the post, fellow passengers began to quietly shift away from the individual, initially assumed to be homeless. The man, however, was then seen attempting to light a small metal pipe.

“He was as high as a kite,” the commuter wrote. “Phlegming and spitting yellow liquid on the floor every few seconds… with a gormless grin and glassy eyes.”

The passenger claimed that he reported the incident to a Transport for London (TfL) employee, only to be told that the man was a well-known repeat offender, so familiar, in fact, that staff reportedly referred to him by his first name.

According to the TfL worker, the man has been a homeless drug addict for over a decade and is frequently reported for similar behaviour every few days.

Despite regular complaints, the British Transport Police (BTP) and local authorities are said to be unwilling or unable to take meaningful action.

The commuter was told: “There basically wasn’t much they could do.”

This incident comes amid a worrying surge in crime on London’s public transport network.

Since 2016, crime rates on the Tube have more than doubled, from 9 offences per million journeys to over 21 as of March 2024. Offences have also increased across the Overground, DLR, and Elizabeth Line, which opened in 2022.

Critics say the response from authorities has been inadequate, with repeat offenders left to cycle in and out of the system, posing a safety concern for passengers and staff alike.

“The first time I saw someone smoke crack on the Tube, it was shocking,” the Reddit user reflected. “Now, it feels like everyone just shrugs.”

A spokesperson from BRP said: “We are aware of a post on Reddit over the weekend referring to a man appearing to smoke crack cocaine on the Victoria Line.

"While the poster states this wasn’t reported to British Transport Police, it is completely unacceptable behaviour which will not be tolerated. If you witness this behaviour, please report it by texting 61016, calling 0800 405040, or speaking to a member of staff.”