This is the shocking moment a man was seen openly smoking from a suspected crack pipe on a busy London Underground train, as stunned commuters looked on in disbelief.
The disturbing footage, filmed by passenger Alex Yates, captured the incident on a Northern Line train between Stockwell and London Bridge in December 2023. The video shows the man, wearing a green beanie and seated in a priority seat, casually using the pipe in full view of other passengers.
Alex described the moment as surreal, saying:
“It was a busy Tube and I saw a big gap between this man and the other passengers and was unsure why.
I then smelled a very strong chemical smell – when I looked up, I was in complete disbelief that this man had pulled out a crack pipe and began smoking it.
What I found most fascinating was everyone’s incredibly British response of simply pretending the issue didn’t exist. There wasn’t a single reaction aside from a few funny exchanged looks.”
The footage has resurfaced amid growing concerns over drug use on public transport, with multiple videos emerging in recent weeks of passengers smoking illegal substances on trains and buses across London.
Several commuters have reported smelling cannabis on the Elizabeth, Circle, and District lines, with some describing it as a “twice-weekly occurrence.” The frequency of such reports has led some to brand the issue an “epidemic” of antisocial and illegal behaviour on the capital’s transport network.
In response, Transport for London (TfL) issued a statement condemning the behaviour and stressing its commitment to safety:
“We want all customers to feel safe when travelling and we understand the alarm this kind of behaviour could cause.
We are working with the police, specialist teams and other agencies to help move vulnerable people away from our network and into help and support.”
A TfL spokesperson added that while London’s transport system remains a relatively low-crime environment, the rise in visible antisocial behaviour is being taken seriously:
“Clearly, any increase in the number of incidents — whether on the Tube, buses or trams — is concerning. British Transport Police, alongside TfL enforcement officers, are actively working to address these issues.”
British Transport Police (BTP) have been contacted for comment regarding the specific incident on the Northern Line.
Commuters witnessing illegal behaviour on the network are encouraged to report it immediately via the BTP text line at 61016 or through the TfL app.
Have you seen similar behaviour on public transport? Contact our newsroom at [email protected] or message us securely via WhatsApp.
