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.
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.”
