Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sharp increase in violence against women on trains, data reveals

Incidents of violent crime against women and girls have soared from 7,561 in 2021 to 11,357 in 2023.

Sharp increase in violence against women on trains, data reveals

VIOLENCE against women and girls on Britain’s railways has risen by over 50 per cent in the past two years, with alarming increases in both violent attacks and sexual offences, according to official figures.

The surge revealed growing concerns about safety on public transport and has prompted calls for stronger measures to protect female commuters, reported the Times.


Data from British Transport Police highlighted incidents of violent crime against women and girls have soared from 7,561 in 2021 to 11,357 in 2023. During the same period, sexual offences have risen by 10 per cent, climbing from 2,235 to 2,475. Furthermore, the number of reports of sexual harassment has doubled, reaching 1,908.

According to the survey, over a third of women commuting by train or tube have experienced sexual harassment or other sexual offences. The majority of these crimes occured during the busy evening rush hour, between 5pm and 7pm, when trains are most crowded.

Jess Phillips, the Labour MP and minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, condemned the rising levels of violence and harassment. “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,” Phillips said.

She highlighted the need for a comprehensive response to address the unacceptable levels of violence and harassment faced by women on public transport.

Officers attribute the increase in reported incidents to a greater willingness among victims to come forward. In response, they have introduced several initiatives to improve safety and reporting, including the “Railway Guardian” app, which allows for anonymous reporting of crimes, and the 61016 text service.

The police have also increased their presence with patrols of both uniformed and plain-clothes officers, and utilise a network of over 150,000 surveillance cameras to monitor and deter criminal activity.

Detective chief superintendent Sarah White, head of crime and public protection at British Transport Police, stressed the commitment to eradicating sexual harassment and offences. “There is absolutely no place for sexual harassment or sexual offences on the network. We are working tirelessly to stamp out this unacceptable behaviour and ensure that passengers feel safe while travelling," she was quoted as saying.

The increase in violent crimes on public transport follows a series of high-profile incidents that have drawn significant attention. In December last year, a man was jailed for nine years for raping a 20-year-old woman on an underground train. The case, which shocked many, highlighted the severe risks faced by women using public transport.

Similarly, in July, a man was sentenced to 20 months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman on an Elizabeth line train. He was also given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Comedian Katherine Ryan praised British Transport Police for their handling of a case involving her daughter. In September last year, Ryan’s daughter was harassed by a group of men on the Tube. Ryan commended the police for their quick response and support, stressing the importance of continued vigilance.

While commenting on the ongoing crisis of violence against women and girls, Anna Birley, co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, said, “This situation serves as a stark reminder that the issue of violence against women and girls persists and, if anything, is worsening.”

Birley, who helped organise the London vigil for Sarah Everard, who was murdered by police officer Wayne Couzens in 2021, said that the rise in reported cases of violence is not merely due to better reporting mechanisms.

She believes that there is a genuine increase in incidents of violence against women and girls (VAWG), rather than just an improvement in how these cases are reported.

Notably, the Labour government has committed to addressing this issue by reducing violence against women and girls by half within a decade, as part of a broader strategy to enhance public safety and support victims.

More For You

ve-day-getty

VE Day 80 street parties, picnics and community get togethers are being encouraged to take place across the country as part of the Great British Food Festival. (Photo: Getty Images)

Public invited to attend VE Day 80 procession and flypast

THE 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day will be marked with a military procession in London on May 5.

The event will include over 1,300 members of the Armed Forces, youth groups, and uniformed services marching from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.

Keep ReadingShow less
Knife crimes

Knife-enabled crimes include cases where a blade or sharp instrument was used to injure or threaten, including where the weapon was not actually seen.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Knife crime in London accounts for a third of national total: ONS

KNIFE-RELATED crime in London made up almost a third of all such offences recorded in England and Wales in 2024, with the Metropolitan Police logging 16,789 incidents, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday.

This amounts to one offence every 30 minutes in the capital and represents 31 per cent of the 54,587 knife-enabled crimes reported across England and Wales last year. The total number marks a two per cent rise from 53,413 offences in 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer and Modi

Starmer and Modi shake hands during a bilateral meeting in the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazil, on November 18, 2024.

Getty Images

Starmer calls Modi over Kashmir attack; expresses condolences

PRIME MINISER Keir Starmer spoke to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning following the deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that killed 26 people on Tuesday.

According to a readout from 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he was horrified by the devastating terrorist attack and expressed deep condolences on behalf of the British people to those affected, their loved ones, and the people of India. The two leaders agreed to stay in touch.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Post Office Horizon

A Post Office van parked outside the venue for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on January 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Post Office spent £600m to keep Horizon despite plans to replace it: Report

THE POST OFFICE has spent more than £600 million of public funds to continue using the Horizon IT system, according to a news report.

Despite deciding over a decade ago to move away from the software, the original 1999 contract with Fujitsu prevented the Post Office from doing so, as it did not own the core software code, a BBC investigation shows.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pahalgam attack: Prayer meet held at Indian mission in London

The prayer meet was led by Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami

Pahalgam attack: Prayer meet held at Indian mission in London

Mahesh Liloriya

A PRAYER meet was held at the Gandhi Hall in the High Commission of India in London on Thursday (24) to pay respects to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ rang out at the event which was led by Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami.

Keep ReadingShow less