Passenger watchdog London TravelWatch has called for urgent action to tackle abuse and hate crime against LGBTQ+ people on the capital’s transport network.
The latest report on personal security shows that many LGBTQ+ people have an underlying yet serious concern for their everyday safety. Two-thirds of those asked felt there is always a possible threat of violence or harassment when using public transport. Some felt this more than others, with trans+ people, Deaf and Disabled LGBTQ+ people and LGBTQ+ People of Colour more likely to express this view than the overall sample.
Given this pervasive sense of concern for their safety, many LGBTQ+ people feel they have little choice but to be extra vigilant and change their behaviour when travelling in and around London. The most common precautions are to hide or disguise LGBTQ+ identities, to avoid interacting or making eye-contact with strangers, and to maintain constant alertness.
Understandably, many LGBTQ+ people surveyed (75%) say they themselves would not feel safe intervening in an incident on public transport. The high proportion of LGBTQ+ people who had experienced abuse or harm, and who said that other people watched but did nothing, underlines our previous call to encourage more Londoners to become active bystanders.*
The report also reveals a lack of confidence or trust in the police among many LGBTQ+ people. Nearly half of respondents said that seeing the Metropolitan Police did not help them feel safer on public transport. 84% of respondents who said they were victimised on public transport in the past year did not report their experiences to the police, either because they felt they would not be able to do anything, or for fear about how they or their report might be handled.
Michael Roberts, chief executive of London TravelWatch, said: “We already knew that LGBTQ+ people had serious concerns about their personal security on public transport, but our findings lay bare the scale of the problem.
“Two-thirds of LGBTQ+ people reported that they had experienced at least one form of victimisation on public transport in the last year. Worryingly, more respondents said London had become less safe in the past five years, than those who thought it had become safer.
“Our report highlights a community on constant alert when travelling around the capital, unable to express its identity and feeling unsupported by the wider public and the police. This situation should not be accepted anywhere in a tolerant society and certainly not in a vibrant, diverse world city such as London.
“Some of the answers lie in tackling anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice, while others such as improved security at stations would benefit all transport users. We urge transport providers and the police to act now so we can create a transport system that really does work for everyone.”
Amy Roch, Deputy CEO of Galop, the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, added: “Every LGBT+ person travelling in London should be able to feel safe during their journey. Galop supports thousands of LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse or violence every year. We know that experiencing abuse for who you are has long-term impacts on a victim’s sense of safety, with some LGBT+ victims having an increased fear of venturing out in public after what has happened to them.
“We’re thankful to London TravelWatch for commissioning this research and recognising the importance of creating a future where every journey in London is one where LGBT+ people can travel freely and without fear.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Furnell, head of crime and public protection for British Transport Police, commented: “Preventing and tackling hate crime is a British Transport Police priority. Everyone has a right to travel without fear and no one should be subjected to violence or harassment because of who they are.
We work closely with LGBT charities and the community to ensure that we understand the issues that they face and can take proactive steps to prevent hate crimes. We conduct highly visible patrols and dedicated operations across the railway to ensure the safety and security of passengers and staff. Our officers are ready to respond to incidents of hate crime immediately, and with access to more than 150,000 CCTV cameras across the rail network they can quickly identify offenders and make arrests.
Throughout a hate crime investigation, we’ll ensure that victims receive the care that they need. Our officers work tirelessly to achieve a successful outcome for the victim and the wider community. Incidents of this nature will not be tolerated on the railway, or anywhere. We urge anyone who sees or experiences a hate crime to report it to the police by text 61016 or the Railway Guardian app.
Image credit: London TravelWatch
