Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce violence against women and girls on public transport.

My Department wants everyone to feel and be safe when travelling, therefore, we have an ambitious, evidence-based programme of work and are working across government and with partners, including the British Transport Police (BTP), the transport industry and local authorities to help tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) on transport.

My Department has also been closely involved in the development of the Government’s VAWG (Freedom from Violence and Abuse) Strategy, which includes nine commitments to help improve safety for women and girls on the transport network.

The commitments which form part of DfT’s contribution to the Safer Streets Mission are:

1. Reviewing and relaunching the Secure Stations Scheme to establish consistent, safety focused accreditation across the rail network.
2. Improving connectivity of real time CCTV at train stations to British Transport Police (BTP) to support faster offender identification.
3. Exploring expanding the provision and use of CCTV on the bus network to increase feelings of safety and support investigations.
4. Launching mandatory training for bus drivers and front line staff on recognising and responding to VAWG and ASB, delivered through the Bus Services Act 2025.
5. Publishing statutory guidance by the end of 2027 on improving the safety and accessibility of bus stops and stations, with local authorities required to have regard to it.
6. Scoping the feasibility of a national, cross modal reporting mechanism for harassment, VAWG and ASB on public transport.
7. Using existing court powers to disqualify VAWG offenders from driving where a vehicle is used in the commission of the offence.
8. Delivering a strategic VAWG package for Roads Policing, strengthening intelligence and enforcement on VAWG related road offences through the DfT–Home Office–NPCC partnership.
9. Bringing forward measures in the Bus Services Act enabling local authorities to make and enforce bus byelaws to tackle ASB, improving safety at stations and stops and across services.

In addition, on the rail network, the British Transport Police work with their partners to raise awareness of VAWG, encourage reporting and receive feedback to improve our response.