(MENAFN) The UK government has announced a review of rail security following a mass stabbing on a Doncaster-to-London train on Saturday. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the review would assess current measures and respond “swiftly and in a proportionate way,” but rejected airport-style scanning for stations as unsuitable for the UK.

The attacker, Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, has been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm, and possession of a bladed article. Eleven people were treated in hospital, including a train staff member in critical but stable condition.

Alexander said more visible police patrols will be deployed at mainline stations, and the government is investing in improved CCTV and exploring facial recognition technology for stations. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that any long-term changes would balance passenger safety with ease of travel.

Experts have called for broader security measures. Former British Transport Police chief Andy Trotter highlighted the importance of reviewing emergency response and increasing security presence, while Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp urged more stop-and-search powers to remove knives from circulation.

Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf warned that heavy-handed security could inconvenience law-abiding passengers, advocating targeted use of stop-and-search instead.

ONS data shows that knife crime in England and Wales is declining, with 51,527 offences recorded in the year to June 2025—a 5% drop from the previous year—and knife-related homicides falling from 239 to 196. Despite the fall, the recent train attack has reignited debate over safety on public transport.

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