Disability Rights UK are urging people who use public transport to look out for disabled women and girls after new figures from the British Transport Police revealed an increase in the number of violent crimes against females.
The figures show there was a 20% increase in violent crimes against women and girls, up from 9,464 in 2022/23 to 11,357 in 2023/24. The number of sexual offences recorded also rose by 10%.
While information about demographics is not included in the figures, DRUK says since disabled women are more likely to experience forms of harassment (such as leering, catcalling, touching and indecent exposure), this increase will have undoubtedly affected more women with disabilities.
Indeed, research from the UNFPA shows between 40 to 68% of girls with disabilities experience sexual violence before the age of eighteen, and women with learning disabilities especially vulnerable.
DRUK says women and girls who are commuting to and from work or travelling to spend time with friends via bus or train should not have to spend that journey fearing for their safety.
The charity is therefore calling on the general public to watch out for offences and stand up for each other. Bystander intervention is often the quickest and most effective way to prevent further harm, and all women and girls should feel as though their experiences are taken seriously by other members of the public and the police.
In addition, DRUK says it is imperative that there are enough staff at bus and train stations, as these staff not only help Disabled people access support, but they also help people who have experienced gendered violence to feel safer.
Stephen Brookes, Disability Rights UK Transport Policy Adviser said: “It is vitally important that all incidents of violence harassment and sexual offences against women and girls, including those of Disabled women and girls are reported.”
“It is critical that all rail and bus operators train staff to create a safe environment for travelling on public transport. The level of violence, harassment and sexual offences that women and girls are experiencing is completely unacceptable and should not go unchallenged.”
Transport Assistant Chief Constable, Paul Furnell, says the British Transport Police view the increase in reports as a “positive sign” that the BTP’s efforts to increase reporting of sexual harassment and violence against women are paying off.
“We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to make the rail network a hostile place for sexual predators. We have patrols of uniformed and specially trained plain clothes officers across the railway day and night to catch offenders and reassure passengers as they travel, along with access to over 150,000 cameras across the railway network.
“Each report we receive provides us with valuable information which we can use to build a picture of an offender. Often it allows us to notice a pattern of offending behaviour so we can take action,” he added.
