Thousands of women and girls attacked on trains yearly
Britain’s railways are becoming more dangerous with thousands of women and girls being violently attacked and sexually assaulted on trains every year, new figures have revealed.
The number of violent crimes has risen by 50 per cent in the last two years from 7,561 in 2021 to 11,357 in 2023, according to The Times.
Sexual assaults rose by 10 per cent in the same period from 2,235 to 2,475, while sexual harassment cases doubled to 1,908.
Labour’s Jess Phillips, who was handed the portfolio for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said ‘no woman should have to plan her journeys by public transport based on where and when she will feel safe’.
She said: ‘Yet that is the daily experience for millions of women whether they are commuting to and from work, or arranging an evening out with friends. Getting on a night bus or a near empty train to go home should not feel like taking your life in your hands.
Britain’s railways are becoming more dangerous with thousands of women and girls being violently attacked and sexually assaulted on trains every year, new figures have revealed (stock image of Victoria station)
Edgar Junior, 50, (left) was jailed for 20 months having admitted sexually assaulting a women on an Elizabeth Line train as it approached Reading station. While ‘depraved’ Ryan Johnston, 37, (right) was jailed in December for nine years for raping a woman as she slept on the Piccadilly Line
Junior was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, banning him from subjecting other women or girls to unwanted attention and drinking alcohol in a public place.
She added that the ‘level of violence, harassment and sexual offences that women and girls are facing… is completely unacceptable’ and it can not be allowed to go unchallenged.
British Transport Police (BTP) said the stark rise was because victims were more willing to report the offences.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah White, the head of crime and public protection at BTP, said they are ‘working tirelessly to stamp out this unacceptable behaviour’.
‘We have patrols of uniformed and specially trained plain clothes officers across the railway day and night to catch offenders and reassure passengers as they travel, along with access to over 150,000 cameras across the railway network, which can provide us with clear, high-quality images,’ she said.
MailOnline has contacted BTP for further comment.
It comes after BTP data last November indicated that most assaults occur during the evening rush hour when trains are packed and busy.
Unacceptable behaviour such as leering, catcalling, touching, pressing, upskirting or indecent exposure is being experienced by women more than ever, with 51 per cent of female victims stating that other rail passengers intervened to try to help.
However, only one in five people who have witnessed incidents of sexual harassment reported it to police.
BTP Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Furnell called on the community to watch out and stand up for each other while catching the train or tube.
In September, comedian Katherine Ryan praised British Transport Police for their efforts in dealing with a group of men who were harassing her 14-year-old daughter Violet and council Lily, 16, during a tube journey while on a trip to London.
She said the pair were filmed by ‘grown men’ during their journey.
Ms Ryan outlined details on the incident on her Telling Everybody Everything podcast.
Comedian Katherine Ryan, pictured right, said last year her eldest daughter Violet, 14, left, faced sexual harassment along with her cousin while travelling by tube
Jess Phillips, who was handed the portfolio for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said ‘no woman should have to plan her journeys by public transport based on where and when she will feel safe’ (Pictured here during her election winning acceptance speech)
In response, Lucy D’Orsi, Chief Constable of British Transport Police replied: ‘I listened to your podcast where you talk about Violet and her cousin’s dreadful experience in London. That was completely unacceptable. I have responsibility for policing the tube and trains.
‘If you’ve not reported this already, please do so. I’m trying to encourage young women and girls to report unwanted behaviour.’
Violet captured footage of some of the abuse.
In July, Edgar Junior, 50, was jailed for 20 months having admitted sexually assaulting a women on an Elizabeth Line train as it approached Reading station.
British Transport Police were waiting for Junior as the train arrived at the station and arrested him immediately.
As well as a jail term, Junior was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, banning him from subjecting other women or girls to unwanted attention and drinking alcohol in a public place.
Meanwhile, ‘depraved’ Ryan Johnston, 37, was jailed in December for nine years for raping a woman as she slept on the Piccadilly Line in front of a horrified passenger and her 11-year-old son.
Head of Crime and Public Protection, T/Detective Chief Superintendent Sarah White, said: ‘Tackling sexual offences is a priority for British Transport Police and we take all reports seriously.
‘There is absolutely no place for sexual harassment or sexual offences on the network, and we are working tirelessly to stamp out this unacceptable behaviour.
‘We have patrols of uniformed and specially trained plain clothes officers across the railway day and night to catch offenders and reassure passengers as they travel, along with access to over 150,000 cameras across the railway network, which can provide us with clear, high quality images. ‘
‘We know that these crimes commonly go under-reported, that is why we continue to relentlessly campaign to encourage victims and witnesses to report to us – and with this we expect the number of reports to continue to increase.
‘Each report we receive provides us with valuable information which we can use to build a picture of an offender. Often it allows us to notice a pattern of offending behaviour so we can take action.
‘If you experience or witness sexual harassment or a sexual offence on the railway, we urge you to report it to us by texting 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app. In an emergency always dial 999.’
