Report Makes 10 Recommendations
Women and girls are being forced to adapt their own behaviour and change their travel habits in order to feel safe on public transport, according to research commissioned by Transport Scotland.
Now a report has made 10 recommendations to help them feel safer, including:
- Introducing systems to regularly monitor, upgrade and repair lighting and communications systems for all transport services
- Developing credible and accessible information and guidance on reporting incidents that do occur
- Exploring the feasibility of increasing the presence and visibility of staff across the transport network
- A comprehensive review of staff training on both their own safety and how to support and protect passengers
I welcome the recommendations of this important report and the Scottish Government response.
GRAEME
The Transport Minister has indicated that she will work with the British Transport Police and with operators to get these implemented.
Women and girls should not have to travel in fear – this is a stain on societies around the world.
But in Scotland we have a government that is committed to doing its utmost to ensure all can feel safe when travelling.
Everyone has the right to feel safe and supported on Scotland’s public transport system, including women and girls which is why this work has been one of my key priorities over the last year.
TRANSPORT MINISTER, JENNY GILRUTH
During our research, women and girls told us they shoulder significant responsibility for adapting their own behaviour to try to ‘be’ and ‘feel’ safe on public transport. They are often in a constant state of vigilance, particularly at night time, and as a result end up changing their plans – only travelling at certain points of the day or not using public transport altogether.
This is simply not acceptable in 21st century Scotland.
We will now work with transport operators and stakeholders to carefully consider these recommendations and how we can implement them quickly and effectively, to ensure our transport network is safer and more secure for all who use it.
Women’s safety on the rail network is a key priority for BTP. The findings from this research will support our aim of ensuring every woman and girl can travel on the rail network without fear of harassment or intimidation. We will use these findings to work with our partners to ensure that sexual harassment will not be tolerated on the network and we will always take reports of this behaviour seriously.
BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, ARLENE WILSON
Our officers continue to patrol the rail network to catch offenders and reassure passengers. We also urge the public to report anything to us by texting 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app. In an emergency always dial 999.
Victim Support Scotland welcomes this focus on increasing women and girls’ safety on public transport. While incidents are still too high, we welcome steps being taken to improve reporting and for complaints to be taken seriously.
KATE WALLACE, CEO OF VICTIM SUPPORT SCOTLAND
VSS is here to help anyone affected by crime and encourage people affected to get support through our website and webchat at victimsupport.scot and our National Support Centre on 0800 160 1985.
Read the summary report and full report.
Background
The Minister for Transport announced in February last year that the Scottish Government would consult on women and girls’ safety on public transport.
Since then, Transport Scotland has taken forward a programme of research work, with the substantive aspect being focussed qualitative engagement with women and girls.
Transport Scotland will now work with stakeholders to review the recommendations and identify actions to take forward.
