Police to Score Train Operators on Sexual Harassment Response
Train companies will receive scores from police on eight standards for handling sexual harassment. The government will not impose financial or legal penalties on operators that fall short.
The BbcTrain operators will be scored by police on how they handle sexual harassment on the railways. Under new government plans, companies will be judged on eight standards including victim support and crime prevention. The announcement follows a BBC investigation that found reports of sexual assaults on trains rose by a third over the past decade.
Issues with CCTV on the rail network have contributed to sex offenders escaping justice.
For a train company to be accredited under the Safer Railway Scheme, police will assess how operators support victims, protect vulnerable passengers, train staff, and prevent crime and harassment. An overall score of at least 70 percent will be required for accreditation.
The Department for Transport can require operators that fall below the threshold to implement an improvement plan. The government does not plan to introduce financial or legal penalties for operators that do not meet the targets.
Following the BBC investigation, more than 100 women have come forward to share stories of sexual assaults on the railways. One survivor who was assaulted in December reported the incident to police, but the perpetrator was never found. The 27-year-old survivor is now receiving counselling for the ongoing impact of the attack.
She said she is angry that the new scheme does not include consequences for operators that fail to meet standards. The End Violence Against Women Coalition said it supports measures to ensure train operators face greater scrutiny, but added that the government's plans do not go far enough.
The Rail Delivery Group said the scheme sets a clear ambition for operators to meet recognised standards to reduce crime and the fear of crime. The scheme follows the Public Sexual Harassment Act coming into force last month, which makes intentional sex-based harassment in public a criminal offence.
Perpetrators can now face a criminal record, fines, and up to two years in prison. Passengers can text police on 61016 to report incidents on trains or at railway stations.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- Last month
Public Sexual Harassment Act came into force making sex-based harassment a criminal offence.
1 sourceThe Bbc - Past decade
Reports of sexual assaults on trains rose by a third according to BBC investigation.
1 sourceThe Bbc - December
A survivor was sexually assaulted on a train and reported the incident to police.
1 sourceThe Bbc - Today
Government announced Safer Railway Scheme for scoring train operators on harassment response.
1 sourceThe Bbc
Potential Impact
- 01
Operators below 70 percent may be required to implement improvement plans.
- 02
Train companies could face public scrutiny based on published scores.
- 03
Passengers may report incidents more readily due to new reporting channels.
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