Public transit incidents increase 24 percent in Amsterdam

The number of serious incidents on Amsterdam public transport increased by 23.7 percent last year, according to figures from GVB. In 2015 the transporter recorded 333 serious incidents, such as threats with a weapon or robbery, compared to 269 in 2014, news wire ANP reports. Last year there were six incidents of staff members threatened with a weapon, double the number of 2014. The number of incidents without a weapon increased by more than half to 43 incidents. There were 167 incidents of vandalism or graffiti, a 15 percent increase. The number of less serious incidents, such as name calling, insults and payment problems, decreased from 1,530 in 2014 to 1,499 last year. The number of incidents on bus and tram increased, while on the subway they decreased. In February GVB decided to gradually remove cash payments on buses, following six robberies in a short period of time.