These scenes vindicate my Underground alcohol ban, claims Boris

But Bob Crow, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, said the Mayor should apologise to all Tube staff for Saturday night's debacle.

Mr Johnson's ban led to protests across London on Saturday night with Underground workers and police officers being assaulted and abused.

Carriages were damaged and some stations were forced to close because of overcrowding.

Seventeen were arrested for offences which included assault, being drunk and disorderly, public order-related offences and drug offences.

Four train drivers and three other members of the Underground staff were assaulted . The tyres of a police vehicle were slashed, two officers were assaulted and another injured.

Mr Crow said: "Boris Johnson should apologise personally to all those who were assaulted and abused last night thanks to a half-baked gimmick designed solely as a publicity stunt.

"The RMT will support any measure that reduces anti-social behaviour but this ban was imposed in haste without consultation with Tube staff. We warned it could put our members at greater risk of assault, but there is no comfort in being proved right when Tube workers have been injured and abused."

However Mr Johnson said today that he still entirely supported the ban and that it had been brought in partially to protect the RMT staff.

A spokesman for him said: "If people weren't convinced of the need for a ban before then they should be now. This behaviour shows exactly why we need to have a ban.

"Boris is not a prude and enjoys the occasional drink but to have people gulping away on the Tube is simply not acceptable.

"He is astonished that the RMT should protest that this ban is something Boris Johnson should apologise for when it is actually designed to protect their members."

One of those arrested was Alan Hyndmanwho was given an £80 fine. In a posting on Facebook he said: "I personally got ar rested for ' used words/behaviour likely to cause a person hearing harassment/alarm/ distress'.

"I said to a cop: 'I wish I had your job mate, you're wicked.' He followed me down the street asked me to move along. I said: 'I am leaving - that's why I've got my f***ing back to you.'

"In cuffs in the back of the van and an £80 fine. Still worth it, awesome night. thanks guys."

A TfL spokesman said: "Large numbers of people did gather on the Underground. While the majority were well behaved there were a number of incidents dealt with by our staff and British Transport Police, who made a number of arrests.

"Some stations were closed for certain periods to manage overcrowding and there was some disruption to trains and Tube services."

Liverpool Street Underground station was closed to ease overcrowding for several hours as were Euston, Euston Square, Aldgate, Gloucester Road and Baker Street.

Superintendent Ellie Bird, of British Transport Police, said a small minority of drinkers had ruined the festive atmosphere. "This was an unfortunate end to what was intended to be a fun event," she said.

"The intention of the organisers was that this should not be a disorderly or disruptive event. We view this as a one-off organised event and not an indication of the alcohol-fuelled disorder that we will experience now that the ban is in place."