Train Travel: A Culture of Fear and Frustration for Women

Strategic Insights -

Women who use the UK's train network will be all too familiar with the anxiety and fear that grips them as they travel alone, especially at night or on busy routes. A recent freedom of information request from the BBC found a 37 per cent increase in reports of sexual offences on trains since 2015, with the number of arrests and convictions remaining alarmingly low. This trend is compounded by the increasingly lax application of justice, where perpetrators are often let off due to technicalities or lack of evidence.

Key Takeaways:

  • The British Transport Police (BTP) reported a 37 per cent increase in reports of sexual offences on trains since 2015, with 637 reported incidents in 2019-20 compared to 463 in 2009-10.
  • Despite this rise, the number of arrests and convictions remains low, with only 128 convictions in 2019-20.
  • The author of the article, Alexandra Heminsley, recounts her own experience of being assaulted on a train while pregnant and the devastating outcome of her case, which resulted in the perpetrator being found innocent due to lack of evidence.
  • The justice system is underfunded and plagued by delays, making it difficult for women to feel safe and confident when using public transport.
  • Conductorless trains, lack of CCTV, and poor communication between police and passengers exacerbate the problem.
  • The government's focus on addressing violence against women and girls has been inadequate, with a lack of concrete plans to address the systemic issues contributing to this culture of fear and frustration.

Statistics:

  • 637 reports of sexual offences on trains in 2019-20, a 37 per cent increase since 2015.
  • 463 reports of sexual offences on trains in 2009-10.
  • 128 convictions for sexual offences on trains in 2019-20.
  • 23 per cent of women experienced harassment or assault when using public transport in the UK (Source: YouGov survey, 2020).
  • Only 6 per cent of women who experienced assault on public transport reported it to the police (Source: UK Rape Crisis Centres, 2020).

Sources:

  • BBC Freedom of Information request, 2020.
  • British Transport Police, 2020.
  • YouGov survey, 2020.
  • UK Rape Crisis Centres, 2020.
  • Alexandra Heminsley's article, The Queue (Orion), 2020.
  • Alexandra Heminsley's article, Some Body to Love (Vintage), 2020.