'Deeply concerning' spike in attacks against women and girls on Scotland's trains
EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of women were assaulted, harassed or faced unwanted sexual behaviour on the rail network last year prompting anger from campaigners.
Violence and sexual attacks against women and girls on Scotland's trains surged by a fifth last year, shocking data has revealed. More than 200 women were assaulted, harassed or faced unwanted sexual behaviour on the rail network between April 2024 and March 31 this year.
British Transport Police found 238 offences were committed against women and girls – up 19 per cent on the previous year. The surge in violence comes despite SNP ministers – who took ScotRail into public ownership three years ago – vowing to tackle violence against women and girls.
Rail union RMT chiefs had also warned about the impact of staff cuts to ticket offices. Women's groups slammed the 'deeply concerning' increase in violence towards women.
Jenni Snell, CEO of the Young Women's Movement in Scotland, said: 'These new statistics around violence and intimidation against women and girls on public transport are deeply concerning but unfortunately not surprising.
'Our Status of Young Women in Scotland 2024-25 research found that public transport is the place where young women feel the least safe – even when compared to other public places like parks or online spaces.
'The upward trend of these violent crimes is not happening in a vacuum.
'It reflects a wider, systemic rise in misogyny and abuse.'
British Transport Police chiefs revealed the grim findings at a meeting in Edinburgh last week. The rate of crimes solved also slumped by five per cent.
About two-thirds of these were violent crimes while more than 30 per cent were sexual – including sexual assaults, harassment, exposure and communicating indecently. There was also a 60 per cent hike in attacks on female staff.
A 2023 RMT survey found a third of female ScotRail workers have been sexually harassed.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: 'A 19 per cent rise in violence and intimidation against women and girls is wholly unacceptable.
'These figures back up what our women members have been telling us – the abuse is real, it is widespread and it is getting worse.
'The best way to prevent assaults and abuse of staff is a fully publicly owned, well funded and adequately staffed railway.'
The stats, discussed at BTP's Scottish railways policing committee last week, also show an alarming overall rise in crime on the railways. A total of 640 violent crimes were reported, up 16 per cent on the previous year.
Tory community safety spokeswoman Sharon Dowey said: 'If SNP ministers are serious about tackling violence against women and girls, these figures should be a wake-up call for them to ensure females feel safe at all times, including on our trains.'
ScotRail spent £1.6million last year to triple the number of body-worn cameras and hire workers to double staff late-night trains on problem routes as part of measures to improve safety.
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Customer operations director Phil Campbell said: 'We will continue to work closely with the British Transport Police to make sure people – particularly women and girls – feel safe while they're travelling.'
The Transport Scotland quango said a working group was set up to assess enforcement powers against antisocial behaviour on trains to consider 'where these can be strengthened or developed further'.
A BTP spokesman said: "There is absolutely no place for violent or intimidating behaviour on the railway network, whether it is targeted towards women and girls travelling across the network, or towards railway staff who are simply doing their job.
"We are aware that every offence is one too many, and we have officers across the rail network around the clock, at stations and on trains, to detect and deter crimes and reassure the public."
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