Surge in violence and sex attacks against girls and women on Scotland's rail network

CAMPAIGNERS & UNIONS HIT OUT OVER FIGURES

- BY DAN VEVERS

VIOLENCE and sexual attacks against women and girls on Scotland's trains surged by a fifth last year, shocking data has revealed.

More than 200 women were assaulted, harassed or faced unwanted sexual behaviour on the rail network between April 2024 and March 31 this year.

British Transport Police found 238 offences were committed against women and girls up 19 per cent on the previous year.

The surge in violence comes despite SNP ministers - who took ScotRail into public ownership three years ago — vowing to tackle violence against women and girls.

Rail union RMT had also warned about the impact of staff cuts to ticket offices.

Women's groups slammed the “deeply concerning” increase in violence.

Jenni Snell, CEO of the Young Women's Movement in Scotland, said: “These new statistics around violence and intimidation against women and girls on public transport are deeply concerning but unfortunately not surprising.