Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers about how to become an active bystander if they witness a crime, harassment or incidents of anti-social behaviour across London’s transport network, as the world marks International Bystander Awareness Day.
Figures from London TravelWatch* show that 63 per cent of people using public transport in London would feel more confident intervening in an incident if they had more information on how to help. There has been a rise in hate crimes across the UK, particularly antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, and being an active bystander can prevent or de-escalate incidents. This can also be beneficial with other incidents such as sexual harassment, where intervening safely can made a big difference.
TfL is encouraging customers to take a stand, with three simple ways to diffuse a situation and support their fellow travellers, but only if they feel safe to do so:
Distract the perpetrator by asking the person being targeted an unrelated question, such as, “do you have the time?” or “what’s the next stop?”
Make note of what has happened and any information about the offender. Report these details to the British Transport Police on 61016 or by using the Railway Guardian App on TfL’s Underground and rail networks. Or if on a bus call the Metropolitan police on 101 or by going online at met.police.uk. In an emergency, always dial 999
Make sure the victim is okay
The annual National Bystander Awareness Day began in 2019, run by charity Communities Inc, to unite people against hate and hostility and in January 2023 the event expanded internationally.
London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “The Mayor and I want everyone to be able to use public transport without fear of abuse and TfL takes a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime. Today, I’m asking Londoners to join us in sending the message that hate has no place in our city.
“Londoners have told us that they want to be able to intervene safely if they witness a hate crime, and they would feel more confident doing so if they had information on the best and safest ways to help. That is why TfL is engaging with Londoners on how to be an active bystander against hate crime and violence against women and girls to build a better, safer London for everyone.”
