Transport for London (TfL) has been urged to adopt a Vision Zero-style approach to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) across the capital’s transport network. Vision Zero, launched by the Mayor of London in 2018, aims to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on roads through target actions, interim measures, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Campaigners are calling for a similar systematic plan to address harassment and sexual offences on London’s Tube and bus services.
Data obtained by the London Assembly shows a sharp rise in sexual offences against women and girls. On the Elizabeth line, reports increased by 247.8 per cent in 2023/24, followed by a further 17.5 per cent in 2024/25. The Underground recorded 745 offences in 2022/23, rising to 856 in 2024/25, while the bus network saw a 28.6 per cent increase in 2024/25.
Transport consultant Susan Leadbetter told the Assembly that TfL currently lacks a “cohesive strategy” on VAWG. She suggested that adopting the systems approach of Vision Zero—including KPIs to measure success—could improve outcomes. “Bringing in that systems thinking of the culture, the design, the engagement and the policies, and again having something to measure against, that is why I think those KPIs are really important,” she said.
Tricia Hayes, chair of London TravelWatch, highlighted gaps in data collection, noting that the absence of a unified dataset makes it difficult to assess trends or compare performance across operators. The British Transport Police do not cover buses, further contributing to incomplete data. Poor handling of incident reports has undermined public confidence, resulting in underreporting.
Research presented to the Assembly indicated that women and girls often do not trust the reporting process. City Hall’s Out in London report showed 21 per cent of LGBTQ+ passengers experienced hate crimes on transport, yet 84 per cent of incidents went unreported. A University of Manchester study found that only 17 per cent of sexual offences on public transport are formally reported, despite estimates suggesting the true number of incidents is far higher.
Experts warn that failure to address these issues could discourage women and girls from using public transport. Hayes said: “There is a powerful business case for tackling VAWG on the TfL network—it is hugely in TfL’s interest, or it’s not going to meet its Mayoral targets for getting people onto its network. There’s no reason not to crack on with strategies to change behaviour, clearer reporting routes and improving the physical environment.”
TfL has acknowledged that the rise in recorded offences partly reflects increased confidence in reporting. A spokesperson noted that tackling sexual harassment and improving customer confidence is a priority. Since 2021, TfL has run a campaign with the Rail Delivery Group, British Transport Police, Metropolitan Police Service, and women’s safety groups to promote a zero-tolerance approach. The campaign aims to raise awareness of unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport and encourage reporting.
The Assembly heard that in 2020/21 there were 1,740 reported offences involving violence or aggression against TfL employees and contractor staff. October 2021 saw the highest number of reported offences since before the pandemic, and these levels have remained elevated, reflecting sustained improvements in reporting confidence.
Campaigners argue that adopting a Vision Zero-style plan, with clear targets and measurable outcomes, could provide a framework to reduce sexual offences and harassment, improve passenger confidence, and make London’s transport network safer for women and girls.
