Crimestoppers Scotland is today, 3rd August 2026, joining with BTP, Network Rail, Scotrail and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) to tackle sexual harassment and offences by ensuring people understand what constitutes such behaviour and how to report it.
Passengers are encouraged to report any form of unwanted sexual behaviour to police if they witness or experience it on the railway network.
This could include groping, masturbating, leering, watching explicit content in public or making sexual or suggestive comments, sounds or gestures.
With the Commonwealth Games just finished and Edinburgh International Festival in full swing, Scotland’s rail and transport networks will be extremely busy.
Government research shows that 84% of women and 60% of men in the UK population have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.
Reports of sexual assaults and harassment on trains have risen by more than a third over the past 10 years, according to a BBC investigation. However, it’s important to contextualise that more and more people are now feeling empowered to report this sort of behaviour – knowing they will be believed and taken seriously.
Crimestoppers is working with the railway industry and in partnership with British Transport Police to ensure passengers can travel safely and are aware of the quick and discreet reporting tools available to them.
Many victims report feeling of being ‘trapped’ with ‘nowhere to go’ and feeling ‘afraid and violated.’ BBC investigation. Crimestoppers 2026.
Twenty-four-year-old Abby told Crimestoppers that she was targeted by four men on a journey from Falkirk to Glasgow. ‘They deliberately sat across from me when the train was empty and began to share pornography on the phone’s speaker. They were staring at me and laughing.
I got up and moved to the carriage and reported to BTP’
To tackle this Crimestoppers Scotland and the rail industry is raising awareness about what constitutes sexual harassment with a Scotland-wide social media campaign, information distributed at Scotland’s stations - including big screens - to encourage passengers to report instances where they feel unsafe. The charity will also have outreach information stalls at railway stations, supported by rail industry partners and the charity’s volunteers. The campaign will also make it clear to perpetrators that this behaviour is not tolerated on the railway.
Crimestoppers, Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group and Scotland’s Railway expects that promoting a shared understanding of what sexual harassment looks like will help people who see or experience it gain the confidence to speak up. This will help ensure BTP are able to identify offenders and hold them to account.
Angela Parker, National Manager of charity Crimestoppers Scotland, said:
“Our charity believes that everyone has the right to feel safe, and that includes when travelling on public transport. We want everyone to have a safe, enjoyable summer but often sexual harassment can be frightening and traumatising, spoiling what should be fun and memorable events.
That’s why we’re working with partners to ensure everyone knows what constitutes sexual harassment and how to report safely and anonymously. Our charity has equipped all of Scotland’s railway stations with sexual harassment calling cards and information.
“If you are uncomfortable about reporting someone you know who is responsible for sexual harassment, remember that you can speak up completely anonymously by calling the railway’s sexual harassment line which is powered by Crimestoppers on 0800 783 0137. We guarantee no one will ever know you contacted us and you will be helping to protect others from the harm caused by this unacceptable criminal behaviour.”
Minister for Victims and Community Safety Kirsten Oswald said:
“Preventing violence against women and girls is a priority for the Scottish Government, and initiatives such as this campaign help challenge behaviours, making it clear that harassment is unacceptable and has no place in society including on our rail network.
“It is vital that everyone feels safe when travelling. By raising awareness, supporting victims and encouraging reporting, this partnership is helping to ensure inappropriate behaviour is recognised and acted upon, knowing it will be taken seriously. I encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences sexual harassment to report it so that those responsible can face justice.
“Enforcement alone is not enough. This behaviour is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women and girls, and the responsibility for ending this rests with the perpetrators who must change their harmful behaviour.”
Innis Keith, Health, Safety and Environment Director at Network Rail Scotland, said: "Everyone deserves to feel safe when travelling by train or passing through our stations. Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable, and no one should have to tolerate inappropriate, intimidating or unwanted behaviour.
"If you experience or witness sexual harassment, then please report it. We will continue working closely with our partners to prevent offending behaviour and support anyone affected. We all have the right to travel with confidence and respect."
Joanne Maguire, ScotRail Managing Director, said:
“Everybody has the right to feel safe on our trains and ScotRail is committed to tackling sexual harassment in any form.
“We are in the middle of a busy summer with high profile music and sporting events, and this campaign will help us to make the railway as safe as possible for everyone.
“It is not acceptable that anybody, particularly women and young girls, should feel vulnerable while using our services.
“We will work closely with Crimestoppers, BTP, and the wider railway industry to raise awareness of what constitutes sexual harassment and how to report it safely, including to our staff.”
Chief Superintendent Lorna McEwan said: “We’re working tirelessly to stamp out sexual harassment across the railway in Scotland – raising awareness of unacceptable behaviour and empowering victims to report them to us, knowing they will be believed and taken seriously.
“Our number one priority is keeping the travelling public safe, and we have officers in uniform and plain clothes who patrol at stations and on trains day and night. I’d urge anyone who experiences this sort of behaviour to report it to us so we can take action. Save our text number 61016 in your phone and let us know if you ever need us.”