Public Transport Safety And Security Advice

Public transport, such as trains, the tube, or buses, all seem to have posters displaying that operators take acts of intimidation and violence against their employees seriously. But it’s not just employees who are subjected to these kinds of incident. Members of the public are also.

Often involving some form of intoxication or youth groups, intimidation and violence on public transport can either be unwarranted, or as a reaction to someone or a youth group being asked to stop their intimidation or anti-social behaviour.

Here are our top tips for reducing the likelihood of being a victim of intimidation or violence on public transport.

• It’s not worth it! As much as you might want to step in and address the behaviour of an individual or youth group on public transport, it’s not worth you then becoming the subject of their interest and behaviour
• There is safety in numbers. So if you’re on your own and feel intimidated or are being subjected to anti-social behaviour, try to tag yourself onto other people or a group
• Don’t be afraid to get up and move. If you’re on a train or tube and in a carriage that isn’t busy, move into a busier carriage as people are less likely to kick off, the more people that are around them
• If in doubt shout loud! If you need help, shout for it. This can often be enough to calm someone’s intimidating or anti-social behaviour down. Or it could mean someone comes to support you
• Raise the issue with the driver or conductor. They are trained to deal with intimidating and anti-social behaviour on public transport, so they should know what to do
• If you know the public transport that you are using often sees incidents involving violence and intimidation, such as the London night bus, have a plan of what you would do if you are subjected to it
• If you have no other choice on a train, lock yourself in the toilet
• If someone tries to take your belongings from you while on public transport, sometimes it’s best just to give them to them. It’s not worth you getting hurt for the sake of your phone or watch
• If you are getting off the transport, ask the driver or conductor to watch and ensure that you are not followed off by the person or youth group who is causing the trouble
• Ring the Police if necessary. They’ll try and keep you on the phone so can support you with some advice and guidance. You can talk them to your location so they can support you

Sadly it’s a sign of the times that people don’t always feel safe on public transport. But by following our safety tips above, it should go some way in keeping you as safe as possible.