Male employee attacked on service between Sutton Parkway and Shirebrook as British Transport Police release image
British Transport Police are searching for a woman after a male member of railway staff was sexually assaulted on a train travelling through northern Nottinghamshire.
The attack occurred at around 9pm on 31 May as the employee was walking through a carriage on a service between Sutton Parkway and Shirebrook stations.
Officers have now released an image of a woman they believe may have information that could assist their investigation into the assault.
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of sexual harassment and assault on Britain’s rail network, where government research shows 84 per cent of women and 60 per cent of men have experienced some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime.
British Transport Police are urging anyone who recognises the woman in the image to contact them by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 682 of 31 May.
Information can also be reported anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The assault comes as rail operators and police continue efforts to tackle sexual offences on the network, with BTP having almost tripled the number of officers specially trained to investigate such crimes across England, Scotland and Wales this year.
Lucy D’Orsi, Chief Constable of British Transport Police, has stated that sexual harassment in public has “become an acceptable norm”, which is one reason why it goes unreported.
“This campaign is about educating people on what is not acceptable and how to report it, so we can work together to make the rail network a hostile environment for sexual harassment,” she said in a recent statement about rail safety initiatives.
The railway network has seen concerning levels of sexual offences in recent years. In 2020, despite Covid travel restrictions, almost one rape was reported every week on British trains or the rail network, according to exclusive analysis by NationalWorld.
Dr Sian Lewis, an expert on sexual harassment on public transport from the University of Plymouth, notes that the “unique” and “liminal” environments on trains can affect perpetrators’ behaviour and encourage bystander apathy.
“On the surface they are very regulated spaces – there’s CCTV and they appear to be controlled environments – but spatially they do encourage violence,” Dr Lewis explained.
The East Midlands Railway route between Sutton Parkway and Shirebrook serves communities in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, with trains running regularly throughout the day and into the evening.
British Transport Police continue to encourage reporting of all sexual offences on the rail network. Detective Chief Inspector Sarah White has emphasised that victims and survivors remain “at the heart of our strategy”.
We would urge anyone who has been a victim of rape or any other sexual offence to report it to us in the confidence that we will extensively investigate and do everything possible to support them,” she said.
The force operates a text service allowing passengers to report incidents discreetly by sending details to 61016. Upon receipt of a text, BTP will respond to let the person know what action is being taken, and in some cases officers may meet them at the next station.
Rail industry figures show that sexual harassment remains a significant problem, with a survey commissioned by British Transport Police revealing that over a third of women have been victims of sexual harassment or sexual offences whilst commuting by train or tube.
Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, has stated: “Every form of sexual harassment is serious and actions like leering, sitting unnecessarily close or making sexual comments are unacceptable on our railway and in wider society.”
The rail industry has implemented various measures to combat sexual offences, including increased CCTV coverage, plain-clothed patrols, and awareness campaigns encouraging passengers to report inappropriate behaviour.
Staff members are being trained to follow specific steps when dealing with incidents: Be aware, Be concerned, Listen, Reassure, and Report. This advice is being shared throughout the industry via informative videos and leaflets.
The Railway Guardian app has also been developed to allow passengers and staff to report incidents quickly and discreetly, providing British Transport Police with crucial information to identify crime hotspots and target patrols.
Anyone with information about the Nottinghamshire incident is urged to contact British Transport Police immediately. The force has assured that all reports are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to identify and locate the woman pictured in connection with the assault.
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