Mandatory and consistent training is proposed for all rail staff to better recognise and safely respond to sexual harassment, says the Rail Delivery Group, made up of train operating companies.
Also proposed are passenger groups across the UK to focus on women and girls’ safety as forums for women to contribute to designing new stations and carriages with safety in mind; and a standardised reporting system for sexual harassment across train companies, ahead of more train operators moving into public ownership under Great British Railways. This was announced ahead of a conference on violence against women and girls (VAWG), addressed by Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood.
What they say
Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: “As an industry our message is clear – any form of sexual harassment on the rail network is completely unacceptable and the rail industry is working together and alongside charities and the government to confront this issue.
“We know that harassment doesn’t just happen out of sight. As bystanders, we can also help to tackle this problem by reporting incidents and intervening when it is safe to do so. Everyone has the right to feel safe when travelling by train. We want people to feel confident to report anything that makes them uncomfortable by texting the British Transport Police (BTP) on 61016.”
About the survey
Of those passengers surveyed for Rail Delivery Group as carried out by pollsters 72point, if they saw unwanted sexual behaviour or harassment on a public transport, over half (62pc) said they would ensure the victim is okay, and half (50pc) would report the incident to rail staff and/or British Transport Police. About a third (37pc) said they would distract the perpetrator with a question, a way to intervene that has been promoted in recent campaigns on the railways.
Visit https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/.
BTP
BTP says that you can report any type of sexual behaviour that has made you feel uncomfortable. Visit https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/campaigns/Sexual-Harassment/. In an emergency, call 999.
Photo by Mark Rowe; Euston station, central London.
