Increasing numbers of sexual offences on public transport recorded – but many experiences are still normalised and go unreported

The British Transport Police’s 2024 annual report shows that there has been a 10% rise in recorded sexual offences against women on railways from the previous year. The number is up from 2,246 to 2,475.

The report suggests that these rising figures may be because more women are reporting their experiences, rather than an increase in sexual crimes on public transport. But it’s likely that this is just a fraction of the sexual offences that take place.

A...