Overview

• The Liberal Democrats have proposed amending the Bus Services Bill to explicitly ban playing loud music and videos on public transport in England, with fines up to £1,000.
• The proposal has received conditional support from the Conservative Party, with a focus on ensuring robust enforcement mechanisms are in place.
• Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has instructed officials to assess how fines can be effectively used to combat antisocial behaviour, including noise disturbances on public transport.
• Transport for London data revealed no prosecutions for loud music on its network in 2024, highlighting enforcement challenges under existing bylaws.
• Polling shows strong public support for the ban, with 62% of respondents backing fines, though concerns remain about the practicality of enforcement and the financial burden on offenders.