TfL Uses Virtual Reality to Promote Active Bystanders
Transport for London (TfL) is using virtual reality on International Bystander Awareness Day. The initiative aims to help the public gain confidence in supporting passengers affected by abuse or harassment on London’s transport network.
TfL continues efforts to address hate crime, sexual offences and harassment across the transport network. Thousands of staff, police officers and enforcement personnel work across services to respond to these incidents.
Awareness events at Victoria and Stratford stations feature virtual reality headsets simulating abusive situations. The demonstrations show how bystanders can support victims by starting a conversation, checking their wellbeing or helping them report the incident.
Members of the public attending the events can also learn more about cooperation between TfL and its policing partners to improve safety on the transport network. Information is provided on how to report incidents. TfL continues to encourage reporting, stating that each report contributes to intelligence gathering, helps observe patterns of offending and supports policing activity aimed at securing convictions. As a result, TfL reports that increased public reporting has enabled more targeted policing activity and improved support for victims.
TfL previously supported bystander awareness training for the public with the charity Protection Approaches, and launched a campaign to encourage supportive bystander intervention on public transport.
A participant in previous bystander training described witnessing verbal harassment on a bus directed at a passenger who was speaking another language on the telephone. The individual intervened by sitting beside the targeted passenger and initiating a conversation to distract the targeted passenger. Both passengers left the bus together, and the individual later offered to act as a witness if the incident was reported.
The campaign promoted the approach of acting as a helpful presence for victims rather than confronting offenders directly. The guidance focuses on distraction and assistance where it is considered safe to do so.
Further awareness activity was undertaken during National Hate Crime Awareness Week in October, when TfL launched a campaign promoted in cinemas and on the streaming platform ITVX. The campaign encouraged members of the public to support those experiencing hate crime, sexual offences or harassment on the transport network.
At the same time, a complementary campaign was launched with messaging directed at perpetrators. The campaign illustrated the consequences of criminal behaviour on the network and emphasised that offenders are likely to be identified and prosecuted.
TfL has also implemented training programmes for staff working across its services. Customer-facing staff on the London Underground, enforcement officers, bus operations staff, river service teams and London Cable Car employees have received training. The training focuses on responding to incidents of sexual harassment and assisting affected passengers.
In addition, equality, diversity and inclusion training is being delivered to approximately 25,000 bus drivers. The training programme includes guidance on recognising harassment, assisting passengers, and reporting incidents appropriately.
A trial carried out in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service has also involved installing closed-circuit television cameras at 20 bus shelters. The initiative is now being considered for expansion into areas with higher recorded crime levels to assess whether CCTV can help deter offences and assist investigations.
In October, TfL established a new task force with the British Transport Police, the Metropolitan Police Service and transport operators. The group was created to address hate crime, sexual offences and harassment across London’s public transport network.
The taskforce focuses on reducing hate crime and violence against women and girls, improving reporting rates and strengthening community confidence in safety measures. It also aims to share best practices among partner organisations and create evidence-based interventions.
TfL has also collaborated with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to conduct women’s safety audits in five London boroughs, including assessments of cycling routes. The audits gather the experiences of women, girls and gender-diverse people to help inform how public spaces are planned and managed. The findings are under review for use in future design and planning considerations.
Funding has also been allocated to local projects addressing hate crime and extremism in the capital. The Mayor of London previously announced £875,000 for 21 grassroots projects through the Shared Endeavour Fund. The funding forms part of a wider £16 million programme supporting efforts to challenge hate crime and intolerance.
Programme data indicates that the funding has supported projects engaging around 190,000 residents across London’s boroughs. These activities help people recognise and critically assess hateful or extremist messaging and build confidence to challenge such messages safely. As a key outcome, these projects have led to greater community reporting of hate crimes and greater participant confidence in addressing hate speech, as reported by project organisers.
