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Police will evaluate train companies based on their efforts to address sexual harassment occurring on railway networks. This new initiative from the government requires operators to meet eight specific criteria, covering areas such as victim support and crime prevention. However, groups advocating for women’s safety, along with survivors of sexual assault on public transport, argue that these measures fall short of providing adequate protection.
The scheme encourages passengers to report various forms of inappropriate behavior on trains, including staring, asking intrusive questions, and making unwelcome remarks. Safeguarding Minister Natalie Fleet shared her personal understanding of these experiences, emphasizing the emotional toll that such harassment inflicts on individuals. She remarked, “I know what it is like to experience this kind of behaviour – the fear, the anger, and the way it changes how you move through the world. Too many women carry this every day, including on their journeys to work or home.”
To earn accreditation under the Safer Railway Scheme, the British Transport Police (BTP) will assess each train operator’s support for victims, their protection of vulnerable travelers, staff training, and methods for preventing crime and harassment. A minimum score of 70% is needed for accreditation, and companies scoring below this benchmark may be required by the Department for Transport to develop improvement plans. Despite these requirements, there are no plans to impose financial or legal penalties on operators that fail to meet the standards.
The response from survivors like Lucy Asson, a physiotherapist who was sexually assaulted on a train and whose attacker remains unidentified, has been critical. Lucy is undergoing counseling due to the lasting effects of the assault. She expressed her frustration with the government’s approach, stating, “I’m angry, this is not enough. It’s a score that doesn’t count for anything in my eyes as there’s no implication. It doesn’t reassure me.” She further added, “Yet again, they’re not doing enough for women’s safety, they’re putting a tiny plaster over a gaping wound that’s getting bigger and bigger.” Meanwhile, organizations such as the End Violence Against Women Coalition acknowledge the positive step of increased scrutiny but insist that stronger actions are necessary to truly protect passengers
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