Violent attacks against women on Britain's trains up by more than 50% since 2021
The figures come after a previous survey revealed more than a third of all women travelling by rail would be assaulted during their commute.
Wednesday 14 August 2024 12:02, UK
Violent attacks against women on Britain's railways have increased by more than 50% since 2021, according to new data.
The number of crimes against women and girls rose from 7,561 in 2021 to 11,357 in 2023, according to figures from the British Transport Police Authority's 2024 annual report.
The amount of sexual offences jumped 10% over the same period, while sexual harassment reports doubled, the data first reported by The Times also revealed.
It comes after a separate British Transport Police (BTP) survey released last year showed more than a third of all women travelling by rail would be assaulted during their commute.
BTP data also indicates most assaults occur during the evening rush hour when trains are packed and busy.
The unacceptable behaviour includes leering, catcalling, touching, pressing, upskirting or indecent exposure.
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Some 51% of female victims said other rail passengers had intervened to try to help.
However, only one in five people who have witnessed incidents of sexual harassment reported it to police.
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Jess Phillips, minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: "In this day and age, no woman should have to plan her journeys by public transport based on where and when she will feel safe, and 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 near empty train to go home should not feel like taking your life into your hands.
"Whether these figures reflect an increase in reporting, an increase in the volume of crime, or a combination of the two, one thing is clear, the level of violence, harassment and sexual offences that women and girls are facing when using the transport network is completely unacceptable, and cannot be allowed to go unchallenged."
BTP Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Furnell last year called on the community to watch out and stand up for each other while catching the train or Tube.
He said: "I'll guarantee that most of us have told our daughters, mums, or friends to be careful on their way home when they're travelling alone late at night - perhaps to share their journeys and stick to well-lit areas.
"But we know that sexual harassment and offending can take place at any hour of the day, and our figures show that it's most likely to happen at the busiest hours when carriages are most full.
"If we see something that isn't right, doing something about it, whether that's intervening, if you feel safe to do so, or reporting it to police."
On trains, the rail industry and BTP are rolling out a new anti-sexual harassment campaign which aims to educate passengers on how to recognise potential situations and intervene safely.