Women and girls in West Midlands urged to report harassment on trains
It comes as reports of sexual harassment on public transport are on the rise
As reports of sexual harassment on public transport in the West Midlands rose by 17% in 2023, the British Transport Police have urged victims to come forward.
Police believe that while this rise in reports shows better awareness of the issue of sexual harassment and how to make a report, many cases are still going underreported.
DCI Nia Mellor from the British Transport Police said: "We always reassure people who come forward that they're taking really brave steps, but what they're doing is not only helping in that situation but can also really help us to identity potential predators who are currently on the rail network."
Explaining the reasons behind the lack of reporting, DCI Mellor said: "People didn't recognise that a lot of the behaviours they experience actually constituted criminal offences ."
19-year-old singer Lex Gibbon has released a new single "Audacity" about her own experience of sexual harassment, urging teenage girls to come forward and make reports.
She wrote the song after a man followed her through an underground train station, verbally abused her and touched her.
DCI Mellor said: "We know that it can be quite traumatic to experience these types of behaviours, but we want them to be reassured that when they take that brave step to come and report to us they will be supported and they will be believed and taken seriously, and we will investigate the report."
British Transport Police have advised people save their number to text 61016 or use their Railway Guardian app so they can make a discreet report.