Women and girls' safety on public transport

Overview

Following an announcement in February 2022 by the Minister for Transport, we have taken forward a programme of research on women and girls’ safety on public transport. This has included a large qualitative study with women and girls using public transport as we well as transport workers. The results and recommendations from this research, published in March 2023, coincided with a parliamentary debate on the eve of International Women’s Day 2023.

Next steps to ensure a safer public transport system for women and girls in Scotland - Workshop - December 2023

In December 2023 the Cabinet Secretary for Transport attended a workshop to discuss the recommendations from the research. 40 stakeholders from over 30 organisations including British Transport Police, Unions, Transport Providers and youth and women’s organisations participated. The event took place as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and produced co-designed principles intended to improve collaboration between key stakeholders. A summary report of the meeting was published in April 2024.

“There’s an app for that!”

In May 2023 we published a report detailing work done to address one of the research recommendations to raise awareness of available to technology assist on public transport to explore whether and to what extent it might be an avenue to improve safety.

Equally Safe Strategy

The Scottish Government’s Equally Safe Strategy and Equally Safe Delivery Plan are aimed at preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls and are focused on early intervention, prevention and support. It recognises that violence against women occurs in the virtual and physical world, and in private and public places, including the transport network.

The Scottish Government supports a wide range of policies to tackle violence against women and girls.

Resources

Rail

For reporting harassment and other types of antisocial behaviour passengers can use the Railway Guardian app, which is provided and supported by British Transport Police. It can be downloaded from their website or via app stores on all mobile phones. It supports real time reporting of incidents via text on 61016 and phone on 0800 40 50 40.

Ferries

Both CalMac and NorthLink ferry operators continue to be staffed by onboard crew and shore staff at ports and are available to passengers to report incidents, or if they feel in a vulnerable position. Security personnel is also deployed where necessary i.e. on the Northern Isles vessels, and on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service Gourock-Dunoon, given this operates late at night.

Bus

The Scottish Government is committed to tackling antisocial behaviour on the bus network. We are working closely with the bus industry to develop further preventative measures and deterrents. Anyone witnessing incidents of antisocial behaviour is encouraged to report this behaviour to the bus operator and the local council’s Antisocial Behaviour Team and to report all criminal behaviour to the police. If you require emergency assistance, call 999.