Request ID: FOI-1789-2223 Date published: 21 November 2022
You asked
Question 1: How many reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault have there been across TfL each month in 2022.
Question 2: How many reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault have there been across TfL each year, beginning in the earliest year in which data was recorded.
Question 3: How many reports of sexual harassment have there been on each individual tube line in 2022?
Question 4: How many reports of sexual harassment have there on the bus services in 2022?
Question 5: How many of the reports made in 2022 have been reported to the Police?
Question 6: How many arrests have been made on TfL for sexual harassment and sexual assault in 2022?
Question 7: What time of the day did the cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault on tfl occur so far in 2022?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1789-2223
Thank you for your request received on 26 October 2022 asking for information about sexual harassment and sexual assault incidents on the TfL network. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. Tackling sexual harassment on public transport has long been a priority for TfL and its policing partners, and concerted action has been undertaken for a number of years. In partnership with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), British Transport Police (BTP), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and women’s safety groups, TfL launched a campaign to tackle sexual harassment on the transport network in October 2021. The campaign highlights various forms of unwanted sexual behaviour that can take place on public transport and aims to send a strong message to offenders that sexual harassment is not tolerated on TfL’s services, and the importance of reporting incidents of this nature. The campaign was informed by research, including focus groups, the expertise of violence against women and girls (VAWG) campaign groups and the policing sector. Since the launch of the campaign, TfL has seen an increase in reports of sexual harassment offences. October 2021 saw the highest number of reported offences since before the pandemic, and these increased levels of reporting have been sustained. The BTP is now also recording offences such as intrusive staring of a sexual nature and verbal forms of sexual harassment, which they didn’t previously, all contributing to a rise in reporting. Increased reporting can help our policing partners build a profile, which could prevent further incidences occurring. The campaign builds on efforts by TfL and police to tackle unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport through Project Guardian and the award-winning Report it to Stop it communications campaigns - both of which aimed to improve reporting levels and to create an environment on the network that does not tolerate intimidation and sexual harassment. The new campaign posters form part of a joined-up national approach to addressing sexual harassment, featuring a consistent message across TfL's network and the national rail network. The campaign also includes magazine and newspaper advertising, editorial partnerships, and other communications. The materials, which appear on buses and trains and at stops and stations, help educate passengers about how to report incidents, encouraging them to do so wherever possible on the bus network at met.police.uk or, for all other TfL services, to text the BTP on 61016. Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers, and should always call 999 in an emergency. You asked:
How many reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault have there been across TfL each month in 2022.
How many reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault have there been across TfL each year, beginning in the earliest year in which data was recorded.
We do not hold the information you have requested. The MPS is responsible for the policing of bus services, but does not record incidents of sexual harassment/assault as a separate category to sexual offences. Sexual assault is also not a separate crime category recorded by the BTP. However, we are able to provide the table below which details recorded unwanted sexual behaviour/harassment on the following services policed by the BTP – London Underground, London Overground, DLR, trams, and the Elizabeth line. Please note, this information is by date committed, not recorded. We do not hold data prior to April 2019.
2019
2020
2021
2022
January
8
9
28
February
9
4
15
March
3
29
22
April
15
2
23
38
May
18
4
27
78
June
25
5
24
62
July
29
6
21
78
August
15
14
22
53
September
17
18
34
51
October
4
17
47
November
1
9
48
December
6
15
27
How many reports of sexual harassment have there been on each individual tube line in 2022?
Line
Total
Bakerloo line
21
Central line
43
Circle, Hammersmith & City line
19
District line
34
Jubilee line
39
Metropolitan line
21
Northern line
39
Piccadilly line
35
Victoria line
43
Total
294
How many reports of sexual harassment have there on the bus services in 2022?
Please see response to question one above.
How many of the reports made in 2022 have been reported to the Police?
All of the information above is derived from police data, therefore every offence detailed has been reported to the police.
How many arrests have been made on TfL for sexual harassment and sexual assault in 2022?
We do not hold this information, this would be held by the police. Please contact them directly for this information. https://www.btp.police.uk/foi-ai/af/accessing-information/ https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/af/accessing-information/
What time of the day did the cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault on TfL occur so far in 2022?
Hour of Day
BTP (all modes) Sexual harrassment / Unwanted Sexual Behaviour
BTP (all modes) Recorded Sexual Offences
Bus-related Recorded Sexual Offences
00:00-00:59
16
23
14
01:00-01:59
6
6
8
02:00-02:59
2
3
11
03:00-03:59
5
8
8
04:00-04:59
4
4
15
05:00-05:59
3
1
12
06:00-06:59
12
6
6
07:00-07:59
25
23
11
08:00-08:59
44
34
13
09:00-09:59
16
11
23
10:00-10:59
20
13
16
11:00-11:59
22
17
31
12:00-12:59
10
13
34
13:00-13:59
32
24
39
14:00-14:59
22
30
35
15:00-15:59
18
16
40
16:00-16:59
42
38
33
17:00-17:59
46
52
34
18:00-18:59
46
50
35
19:00-19:59
46
48
50
20:00-20:59
41
37
63
21:00-21:59
33
24
56
22:00-22:59
41
33
31
23:00-23:59
40
34
15
Total
592
548
633
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
