Mayor celebrates London’s vital frontline workers and calls on Londoners and visitors to support them as reports of abuse rise

• Sadiq urges Londoners and visitors to support the capital’s frontline workers after increasing reports of abuse against workers
• Mayor’s Loved and Wanted campaign celebrates the key role that frontline workers play in keeping the capital safe and running
• New polling shows more than a third of Londoners say transport workers are treated negatively by the public, with a quarter (25 per cent) saying the same for retail and hospitality workers, and more than a fifth (22 per cent) feeling the same for healthcare workers

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on Londoners and visitors to support the capital’s hard working frontline workers in the wake of significant increases in abuse reported against our transport, NHS and retail workers.

 

The Mayor is sending messages of support to workers across the capital to honour everything they do for London as part of his Loved and Wanted campaign. 

 

This includes a tribute to London’s frontline workers by author and poet David Larbi that will be shown across the transport network, on advertising boards across the city, through partners and across social media. It sits alongside a wide range of work by partners across the capital to show that workplace violence and aggression is completely unacceptable.

 

It follows a rise in reports of abuse against a number of workers in the capital and across the country, that include:

 

• a 78 per cent increase in reports of racist abuse towards nursing staff across the UK. (1)
• more than a quarter of NHS London staff reporting harassment, bullying or abuse at work from the public (2)
• 1,600 incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers every day across the UK in 2025. With almost a third of Londoners reporting witnessing violence or abuse against retail workers while shopping. (3)
• a 28 per cent increase in incidents of violence and aggression against bus drivers and rail operating staff so far this year compared to 2023/2024 (4)

 

New polling published today shows that more than a third (37 per cent) of Londoners say that transport workers are treated negatively by the public, with a quarter (25 per cent) saying the same for retail and hospitality workers, and more than a fifth (22 per cent) feeling the same for healthcare workers.

 

Only a quarter of Londoners feel that retail and hospitality workers (25 per cent) are shown enough thanks for their work all or most of the time, with over a fifth (22 per cent) feeling the same about transport workers. Four in ten (40 per cent) think the public show enough thanks to healthcare staff all or most of the time. (5)

 

The Mayor is using his Loved and Wanted campaign to reach out to frontline workers, celebrate the work that they do and reiterate that we will never tolerate abuse. The Loved and Wanted campaign was launched last year to celebrate the capital’s diversity in the face of rising fear, hatred and division online and on our streets. The campaign has included creating a network of community spaces to help London’s diverse communities access support services and provide them with a space to come together and learn from each other.

 

The Mayor has led from the front to ensure the police takes a zero-tolerance approach to all hate crime, including a record £16m to combat hatred, intolerance and extremism and to support grassroots community groups to stand up to hate.

 

Earlier this year the Mayor and TfL brought together senior transport leaders, frontline colleagues, the police and trade union representatives for an urgent summit to reinforce TfL’s dedication to reducing violence, abuse and intimidation against transport staff, including its operators and contractors. TfL’s investment has included making body‑worn video essential kit for all frontline staff, CCTV improvements, enhanced policing and communications campaigns.

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Our frontline workers are the very heart of our capital - keeping us moving, caring for us when we get ill and looking after so many of our needs. The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of how vital these workers are, but since then we’ve seen a disgraceful rise in abuse. These are human beings trying to do a hugely important job and it’s shameful that they are facing such treatment. That’s why I’m calling on all Londoners and visitors to play their part by standing up for diversity, equality and decency, and showing that our capital will always be a place for everyone. We’ll continue to build a better London for everyone.”

 

Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, said: “We welcome the Mayor highlighting the need to respect and value workers providing a service to the public, they are key workers that we all rely on. No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that nearly four in five retail workers are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. Customer frustration is now one of the top triggers for abuse of retail workers and we ask customers to keep their cool and respect the person who is providing them with an essential service.”

 

Steve Garelick, GMB London Membership Development Officer, said: “Transport workers contribute on a daily basis to not only enabling Londoners and its many visitors get from A to B. These workers often are the first to respond to many events that may occur on a working day but they also face inappropriate behaviour No one deserves abuse, we ask individuals to put themselves in the place of these workers and treat them with the same respect that they would expect to receive from others.”

 

Lisa Elliott, RCN Director for London, said: “Nursing staff are the backbone of the city’s health and care services, working around the clock to ensure Londoners receive safe, effective and compassionate care. London has the most diverse nursing workforce in the UK, reflecting the rich makeup of our population, and this must be recognised as a strength. Yet increasing numbers of nursing staff in the capital are experiencing physical attacks and verbal abuse at work. Racial abuse is widespread, with many internationally educated staff bearing the brunt of this behaviour. Let me be clear: no one should be abused, threatened, or assaulted at work. Nursing staff must be respected and feel safe. At a time when anti-immigration rhetoric is rising, the Loved and Wanted campaign reminds the public and politicians of the vital contribution nursing staff make. Without them, health and care services could not function. Leaders must do more to protect staff and ensure there are serious consequences for those who abuse healthcare workers.”

 

Eddie Dempsey, RMT General Secretary, said: "Violence against rail and other frontline workers is totally unacceptable and the Loved and Wanted campaign makes clear that all workers should be respected regardless of their background. Our union is based on the principle of winning for all workers in Britain and opposing racism and bigotry of any kind."

 

Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA General Secretary said: “TSSA welcomes the Mayor’s campaign. Our members face a barrage of assault, abuse and harassment, including hate crime, in the day-to-day of their working lives. To tackle this rising tide of unacceptable behaviour, we must commit the resources to ensure transport workers are kept safe and supported in their workplace. Even one instance of violence is one too many. It’s also right to honour the contribution of these workers, many of whom have travelled to the city from across the globe, made it their home, and now do so much to keep London moving.”

 

UNISON London regional secretary Sara Gorton said: "Without urgent action, abuse and poor treatment of staff we rely on for essential services will become normalised.  Londoners clearly want to see frontline workers given more kindness and respect. Prevention must be at the heart of plans to reduce frontline violence.  The Loved and Wanted campaign is an opportunity to act collectively and raise the bar on treatment of our essential workers."

 

London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Lord, said: said: “Every day, thousands of our colleagues across the transport network play a vital role in keeping London moving, often in challenging circumstances. They have the right to carry out that work without fear of abuse, intimidation, or violence. We are working closely with the police and partners to take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse, making it clear that anyone who targets our staff will be caught and can expect serious consequences. The continued support of customers and the wider public who do show respect for the people who keep the capital running is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference to our colleagues.”