Police to Score Train Operators on Sexual Harassment Response

Train 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.