Victims of crime on public transport in London are being 'failed by fundamental flaws' in the reporting process and a lack of CCTV, Metro can reveal. A sense of 'disinterest' from station staff, confusion about how to report incidents, and a lack of confidence that anything will happen is preventing people from reporting crimes, London TravelWatch found.
Victim's ordeal on Elizabeth Line
Isadora Medeiros was travelling on the Elizabeth Line to see her friend in 2021 when a man asked for her number. She said no, and he then called her a 'f***ing b****' and threatened to rape and kill her. She was then slapped by the man, and she reported the incident to British Transport Police.
But despite the attack occurring in the middle of the carriage in broad daylight – and Isadora filming the man – officers said they could not pursue the case as none of the CCTV was working. 'I was told none of the cameras were working after he slapped me,' Isadora, now 24 and a primary school teacher, told Metro. 'He began shouting at me, saying “you think you are so good”, and then said he would run me over with his car and rape me if he ever saw me again.'
She was told the cameras were not working at Stratford Station where the man got on, inside the train carriage, and at Ilford Station where the man got off. Isadora said: 'I felt scared, I couldn’t get on the Elizabeth Line for months because I was scared I was going to see this man, and he was going to do something to me.'
Staff 'completely unbothered'
Other victims have told Metro they have experienced 'disinterest' from staff which made them feel unsupported. In March, Victoria was upskirted on the Central Line by a man sat opposite her. After confronting him, she went to tell staff at Debden Station what happened. She said: 'I knocked on the door of the ticket office and a man answered. I told him what happened, and he was completely unbothered. He just told me “oh well, looks like you need to text British Transport Police then”, and shut the door.'
Police closed the case as the man had jumped the barriers, and once again, there was no CCTV in the carriage she was on.
Only two out of five victims report crime
This lack of trust in the reporting process means the true scale of crime in the public transport network is unknown, with London TravelWatch finding only two out of five victims came forward. TravelWatch is urging for the creation of a single streamlined system within the reporting process, as multiple operators, public authorities and police forces can be 'confusing for victims'.
Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, said: 'The incidents highlighted are deeply concerning and we are very sorry that Victoria and Isadora experienced this on our network. We want every victim to feel confident in coming forward and to know they will be listened to and supported. While we recognise there is always more to do to improve victims’ experiences, we are working closely with the police to strengthen reporting, support investigations and bring offenders to justice.'
BTP Chief Inspector Cheryl Ling said: 'We agree that reporting pathways should be accessible and straightforward so passengers can report crimes and their concerns as quickly as possible. We continue to work with our partners, including Transport for London, the Mayor’s Office and the Metropolitan Police, to make the capital’s transport network as safe as we can for everyone.'
Rail Union TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust said: 'This is really valuable research from London TravelWatch and it reflects many of our own concerns about the rising tide of violence and abusive behavior on our railways both in London and across the country. There is much which needs to be done, including more training for those on the front line, but in truth the big things which will make a difference are more staff on the railway and increased budgets, including for British Transport Police.'
Metro has contacted British Transport Police and Transport for London for comment.
