'Heroes' who booted vile flasher off Tube won't face charges as police finally drop year-long probe

Footage at the time captured the man refusing to pull up his trousers while shouting at those confronting him to "f*** off," before a physical altercation led to him being forced off the train.

Children were aboard at the time.

Following his arrest on the platform, the man was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act.

British Transport Police (BTP) then opened an investigation into what it described as his "assault by a number of other passengers".

Three of the men involved were interviewed under caution, with the force attempting to bring charges against them.

The CPS has now concluded there was "no realistic prospect of conviction," meaning the case will be formally closed with no further action.

A spokesman said: "After careful consideration of the available evidence in this case, we concluded there was no realistic prospect of conviction. No further action will be taken."

Harry Miller, a former police officer, welcomed the CPS ruling but voiced alarm that BTP had even considered that prosecution might have been appropriate.

In August 2025, five members of the public intervened to eject a naked man from a busy Tube carriage at East Ham station

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"In any normal world, there was no possibility of a prosecution," he told The Telegraph.

"Those three people were doing what any normal person would do in the absence of a police officer on a train."

He accused the force of losing sight of its core purpose.

"Yet again, the police have failed to understand what their duty is, which is to protect and serve, not to go around persecuting those who take the safety and dignity of other passengers into their own hands because the police are not present," he said.

Mr Miller argued that ordinary citizens were not merely entitled but obliged to step in during such situations.

Following his arrest on the platform, the man was detained under the Mental Health Act

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"The police are so disassociated with the public and public sentiment but also the law. You intervene when someone is doing something as gross as exposing themselves.

"The public, in my view, had a duty not just a right to intervene in the absence of a police officer," he added.

Susan Hall, the leader of the Conservatives at City Hall, previously described the men who had removed the naked man as “heroes”.

“They were looking out for the rest of the people on that train,” she said. “I’m sick of people trying to make things better and the police spending time investigating them.

"They should be out catching people walking around the city with knives. It’s absolutely appalling.”

A BTP spokesman said: “In August 2025, we launched an investigation into an incident on board a District Line train at East Ham, which was well-circulated on social media.

“We interviewed three men in connection to the incident and presented a file of evidence to the CPS, who have not authorised charges.

“The other man concerned who was suffering a significant mental health crisis at the time of the incident remains in hospital receiving appropriate care.”

A CPS spokesman said: “After careful consideration of the available evidence in this case, we concluded there was no realistic prospect of conviction. No further action will be taken.”

Responding to criticism, Charlie Doyle, the BTP’s Assistant Chief Constable, said: “It is irresponsible to suggest that anybody has a ‘duty’ to behave like this, particularly towards an extremely vulnerable person suffering significant mental health crisis.

“While charges to CPS weren’t successful in this case, it is right that a criminal investigation took place and we will not hesitate to pursue prosecution for those who choose to act in such a way in future.”