VR film at Liverpool Lime Street to tackle sexual harassment on railway
It's aimed at encouraging bystanders to recognise and help combat it
VR headsets are being offered to people heading to and from Liverpool Lime Street station today - as part of plans to combat sexual harassment on the railway.
It's aimed at encouraging bystanders to recognise the signs of sexual harassment and know how to safely intervene.
Seven in ten women in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space and research from the rail industry found that 85% of women would feel relieved if someone intervened during incidents of sexual harassment on public transport.
The VR headsets play a film, which shows that through small actions - like asking the victim if they want to swap seats or distracting the perpetrator with a question, can help before police or rail staff can be involved.
Nicole Jennings, Chief Delivery Officer at Rail Delivery Group, said:
"At Rail Delivery Group we are committed to making sure all of our customers feel safe on our railway. This campaign is about raising awareness of the small interventions that can make a big difference. Through the rollout of our immersive VR experience at stations nationwide, we're equipping individuals with the tools to intervene safely as bystanders before the police or rail staff get involved.
"Whether witnessing or experiencing anything that makes you uncomfortable, we urge everyone to report incidents promptly to the British Transport Police via text at 61016.
"Everyone travelling on Britain's railway has the right to feel safe and empowered to speak out against such behaviours."
Greg Suligowski, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Merseyrail, said:
"We work hard to make sure our customers feel safe whilst travelling on Merseyrail and that’s why it’s so important for us to support this event at Liverpool Lime Street.
"Through talking to our customers, we know that they generally think Merseyrail is a safe network, however we aren’t complacent and are committed to making sure that those that are likely to feel more vulnerable whilst travelling are supported.
"Our new fleet of trains has a range of features in its design which ensure customers’ safety. All of our trains have on-board Train Managers who are able to help in any situation. Live CCTV cameras are monitored, allowing colleagues from BTP or our security teams to respond if needed and when appropriate."
Dave Whitehouse, Director of Safety and Sustainability at Avanti West Coast, said:
"We want everyone to feel safe when travelling on our network and alongside the rest of the industry we’re committed to tackling the issue of unwanted sexual behaviour on the railway.
"The VR experience is a great tool for equipping people to safely intervene and report incidents without coming to harm. By educating people on what to look out for and highlighting the role they can play, we hope to encourage them to make a meaningful difference if they come across anything untoward when travelling."