New guidance sets out how passengers can intervene when witnessing inappropriate behaviour – but only when it’s safe to do so.
TravelSafe Partnership campaign aims to encourage a culture of active bystanders, though passengers are not being asked to police the network.
Huge strides made to improve perceptions of safety on the network with more staff on the network, reinforcing TfGM’s commitment to ensuring the safety of passengers and staff.
People travelling on public transport in Greater Manchester are being encouraged to become ‘active bystanders’ and safely support one another when confronted with harassment or unwanted sexual behaviours.
A new campaign launched this week by the Greater Manchester TravelSafe Partnership aims to help passengers recognise the signs of harassment or unwanted sexual attention, while also advising on how to support someone targeted and how to report incidents.
Ensuring the safety of everyone travelling or working on public transport, particularly women and girls, is of vital importance to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which as a White Ribbon-accredited* organisation is committed to doing all it can to end violence against women and girls.
Common examples of negative sexual behaviours on public transport include leering, catcalling, touching, pressing, upskirting and indecent exposure. While incidents of this nature remain low on public transport, they can create a negative perception of safety which TfGM is continually looking to improve so people can travel with confidence.
To help encourage a culture of active bystanders on public transport, TfGM has commissioned an advertising campaign which will appear on buses, trams, trains and at stops and stations.
It sets out clear guidance for customers on the types of action they can take, only if it’s safe to intervene, when witnessing another passenger experiencing negative sexual behaviours.
Making small talk: Interrupt the situation by striking up unrelated conversation such as asking “What’s the next stop?” or “Do you have the time?” or pretending you know the person being harassed and act excited to have randomly run into them.
Causing a distraction: Divert attention away from the harassment taking place by “accidentally” dropping something or causing a commotion e.g. dropping your bag, change in your wallet, or even your phone (just make sure it’s in a strong case!)
Offering your seat: Give the passenger a way out of the situation by offering your seat or swapping seats with them.
Making sure they are okay: Afterwards, check in and ask if they are okay, or speak to a member of staff for help.
Vernon Everitt, Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Everyone using or working on our public transport and active travel network is entitled to be, and feel, safe at all times. People should not have to put up with being harassed or subject to sexual remarks or behaviours.
“Greater Manchester’s TravelSafe Partnership includes uniformed Bee Network support officers alongside regular police patrols out and about at stations, bus interchanges and on trams and buses. They provide a visible and reassuring presence on the network and take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of antisocial behaviour and crime.
“This campaign offers advice to customers on how to safely support one another and then report incidents, which then helps our teams take action against offenders. All reports are followed up and provide vital intelligence to inform our approach. I urge everyone to think about how to use the advice to become active bystanders and ensure that everyone feels safe and supported on public transport.”
Reporting incidents of harassment or negative sexual behaviours can also help ensure that it doesn’t happen to someone else. This can be done discreetly through LiveChat, which connects the user with a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) call handler, or by calling 101. Always dial 999 when someone is in immediate danger.
If you’re not feeling safe while travelling alone and looking for a distraction, you can also contact Strut Safe, a volunteer-operated support line which offers people a friendly voice to keep them company over the phone until they feel safe.
Since launching the Bee Network, huge strides have been made to make sure people are safe, and feel safe, at all times when travelling which is a vital importance to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Significant work is also being carried out by the TravelSafe Partnership to keep the travelling public safe with trained uniformed officers patrolling the network and carrying out specialist operations on a weekly basis, providing a reassuring, visible presence while also deterring crime and antisocial behaviour.
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities said: “Despite the good work that takes place to tackle it, gender-based violence remains endemic around the world, the country and, sadly, here in Greater Manchester too. Reducing gender-based violence is central to our efforts to making the city-region a safer place that everyone can access, and we are starting to see real change happen.
"Bringing together our services and our partners is a vital part of how we tackle gender-based violence and abuse. That’s why we have a specific transport priority within our ten-year Gender-Based Violence Strategy, with GMCA and TfGM working in tandem to tackle these behaviours and make everyone safer across our Bee Network.”
Research conducted by TfGM in 2021showed that 57% of women feel unsafe on public transport and in public places. However, since the launch of Bee Network franchising in September 2023, huge strides have been made to make sure people are safe, and feel safe, at all times when travelling
A total of 69 new TravelSafe Support and Enforcement Officers (TSEOs) have been recruited to provide a reassuring, visible presence for the travelling public, with an additional 45 due to be recruited for the final phase of Bee Network bus franchising from 5th January, 2024.
Recent passenger satisfaction survey shows that 75% passengers feel safe while travelling on Metrolink at night, which is the highest number recorded in almost 20 years. This corresponds with an increase in Customer Service Representatives on the tram network who, as well as checking tickets and tackling fare evasion, help reassure customers.
The TravelSafe Partnership, led by TfGM and Greater Manchester Police with support from British Transport Police, transport operators, local authorities and charities, dedicates more than 5,000 hours per week patrolling Metrolink and bus networks, day and night, seven days a week.
TfGM control rooms operate on a 24/7 basis and monitor feeds from more than 3,800 cameras across Greater Manchester’s bus stations and interchanges, tram stops and railway stations.
Last year TfGM supported the GMCA’s #IsThisOK? campaign by releasing a series of videos showing the types of unwanted behaviours that sometimes happen on public transport, and challenging men and boys to speak out and challenge these behaviours by safely intervening and reporting them.
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