Crackdown on unwanted sexual behaviour on the rail network

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A nationwide campaign has been launched calling on victims of unwanted sexual behaviour to report offences to police, no matter how small.

Every Report Builds a Picture highlights how multiple reports from different people can help British Transport Police ‘build a picture’ of offenders – even if some of those cases don’t make it to court.

This is the second phase of the Report It To Stop It campaign, which was launched in 2015 to tackle under-reporting of sexual offences. 

Research showed that following this campaign there was an increase in reporting of sexual offences, but some victims were still  unsure whether anything could or would be done to catch the offender.

The campaign centres on a video of a man with a pixelated face, which is overlaid by the sound of victims recounting what has happened to them. As each report is heard, the man’s face becomes clearer. He is then arrested.

Unwanted sexual behaviour is anything that makes a person feel uncomfortable. Passengers can report anything of a sexual nature, including rubbing, groping, masturbation, leering, sexual comments and indecent acts. Victims don’t have to prove that it was a criminal offence or that it was committed intentionally, as officers will investigate.

The targeted week of action starting Monday (30 April) will see uniformed officers step up patrols and advise commuters on how to report unwanted sexual behaviour.

People can discreetly text 61016, which is monitored by a control room.

Plain clothes officers will also be looking out for any potential offenders on the network.

Further days of engagement and action will be carried out in the coming weeks to support the campaign, with officers handing out leaflets and giving advice to commuters and tourists.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Furnell said: “Tackling all forms of unwanted sexual behaviour on the railway is a priority for us.

“Each report we receive provides us with valuable information which we can use to build a picture of an offender. The sooner we receive a report, the better chance we have of catching the offender.

“We want people to know that even if they think something is too small to be taken seriously by police, that is not the case. Often it allows us to notice a pattern of offending behaviour and we will take action.

“Although normally an increase in reported crime is seen as negative, we welcome the increased reporting of sexual offences. 

“This indicates an increased awareness that all types of unwanted sexual behaviour are unacceptable. More people have the confidence to report what has happened to them and know we will take them seriously.

“No incident is too small or trivial. We will always take you seriously.”