A leading academic has warned that underreporting of sexual harassment and violence against women and girls on public transport is making it harder to develop effective safety measures.
Dr Reka Solymosi, a researcher at The University of Manchester, argues that the lack of reliable data prevents authorities from designing evidence-based interventions. Writing for the university’s policy engagement platform, Policy@Manchester, she highlights figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that only 17% of victims of sexual violence report their experiences.
“If we apply this estimate to the recorded monthly average of 116 sexual offences, the adjusted figure could rise to 683 incidents per month,” Dr Solymosi writes.
She points to initiatives such as the “Report It to Stop It” (RITSI) campaign, which has encouraged more reporting of incidents without increasing fear of crime. However, she notes that its impact has been inconsistent, with research showing it was effective on the London Underground but had little influence on bus networks.
Fear of crime shaping public transport use
Dr Solymosi explains that both the fear and reality of victimisation influence how women and girls use public transport. Many avoid certain routes or transport options altogether, while others adopt self-protective behaviours, such as travelling only during peak hours or avoiding empty carriages.
Her research, which uses an experience sampling method via a mobile phone application, shows that fear of crime is shaped by situational and environmental factors. She argues that understanding the context of women’s experiences is crucial to developing targeted safety measures.
However, she warns that many incidents go unreported due to inaccessible reporting systems or a lack of trust in authorities. “This absence of reliable data creates a vicious cycle,” she explains. “Without a clear picture of the problem, authorities struggle to develop targeted interventions.”
Policy recommendations to improve safety
Dr Solymosi has outlined several policy recommendations to help tackle violence against women and girls on public transport.
She calls on transport authorities and police forces to prioritise evidence-based initiatives, ensuring that reports of sexual harassment are taken seriously and acted upon. “For transport authorities, this means making reporting easier and ensuring campaigns and interventions are based on data and evidence,” she writes.
She also urges authorities to expand public awareness campaigns that encourage reporting. These campaigns, she says, should use inclusive language and imagery that reflect the diversity of transport users. Additionally, authorities must “close the feedback loop” by demonstrating how reports lead to real change, reinforcing trust in the system.
Another key recommendation is the introduction of user-friendly tools for discreet, real-time reporting. Dr Solymosi suggests that local and national transport authorities integrate these features into existing transport apps to make reporting quicker and more accessible. Government legislation, she adds, could require private transport companies to adopt such solutions.
Finally, she stresses that any interventions must be rigorously evaluated to measure their effectiveness and identify potential unintended consequences. “Too often, campaigns are implemented without understanding their true impact,” she warns. “Embedding evaluation from the start ensures that interventions work as intended or can be adapted to maximise their impact and avoid unintended harm.”
Dr Solymosi’s article, Safer transport for women and girls through better data collection, is available to read on the Policy@Manchester website.