MSP calls for change as sexual attacks on trains reach 10-year high
46 women were sexually assaulted on trains last year
North East MSP Tess White says "women are being completely let down by the system" after figures show sexual attacks on trains reached a 10 year high in Scotland.
46 women were victims of sexual assault on trains in 2021, with a further 301 threatened, harassed or commonly assaulted.
"These figures are sickening and highlight that women are being completely let down by the system which isn’t doing enough to protect them on public transport.
"If we are serious about tackling this then the Scottish Government must act urgently by improving education about it in schools and homes as well as properly funding public services to address the issue because these appalling attacks must stop."
Ms White is now calling for dedicated awareness and information campaigns in trains, on platforms and in stations that aim to inform passengers of a phone number or application to use to report harassment.
"Women should be able to wear what they want without the threat of sexual harassment and violence and shouldn’t have to put headphones on in fear of the tide of abuse which may be aimed at them.
"Across the north-east and the rest of the country, women are rightly asking ‘what will it take’ for the status quo to change.
“This is why it’s vital the Scottish Government addresses these horrendous attacks which are occurring daily in different places across our public transport networks."