UK Government Scores Train Operators on Harassment Response, Critics Say Lacks Teeth

Under the Safer Railway Scheme, British Transport Police will assess train companies on eight standards, including victim support and crime prevention. To earn accreditation, an operator must score at least 70 %; those falling short will receive an improvement plan from the Department for Transport. No financial or legal penalties are planned for operators that miss the target. Passengers can text British Transport Police on 61016 to report incidents such as staring, intrusive questions or unwelcome comments. The scheme also encourages staff training and better CCTV coverage on trains and stations.

Reports of sexual assaults on trains have risen by one‑third over the last decade. Safeguarding minister Natalie Fleet said she knows the fear, anger, and disruption such behaviour causes in daily life. Lucy Asson, a physiotherapist assaulted on a train in December, said the scoring system feels meaningless because it carries no real consequences and does not reassure her. Following a BBC investigation, more than 100 women have come forward to share their experiences of assault on the rail network. Many say perpetrators often go unidentified because of gaps in surveillance.

The scoring approach creates transparency but leaves enforcement to voluntary compliance, which safety groups argue is insufficient to deter repeat offences. Operators may improve policies to achieve a passing score without facing sanctions, potentially limiting the scheme’s impact on passenger confidence. The measure follows the Public Sexual Harassment Act, which now makes intentional sex‑based harassment in public a criminal offence punishable by fines or up to two years in prison. The End Violence Against Women Coalition said the scoring adds scrutiny but warned that naming and shaming alone may not protect those who cannot avoid a poorly rated operator. The Rail Delivery Group welcomed the scheme as a clear ambition to reduce crime and the fear of crime for all travellers.