You can't escape, says victim of train sexual offence as reports rise

According to data obtained by a BBC probe, reports of sexual assaults and bullying on trains have increased by more than a third over the past ten years. Last year, there were 2,661 incidents recorded in England, Scotland, and Wales, where one out of every ten children was children, with some younger than 13. Rhiannon Williams said she was sexually assaulted on a train earlier this year and was reminded that

you can't go somewhere, you can''t escape. I had to sit down and put up with it. The rise is a

concernand will investigate every allegationseriously,

according to the company that represents train operators, although the group that represents railway companies has

zero tolerance to sexual harassment.

According to statistics gathered by the BBC as a result of a 38 percent rise in sexual assault cases in England, Scotland, and Wales since 2015. Warning: this story contains information that may be troubling. Rhiannon said she was sexually assaulted on a train by a group of inebriated guys when going home in west Wales this summer after a day out with friends at Tenby, Pembrokeshire's seaside resort. The 18-year-old told the BBC, "It was both uncomfortable and frightening.

It's a situation of feeling quite cornered. You're on a train, you can't go anywhere; you can not get out. It definitely made me feel trapped. The incident, which occurred in August, was described as bullying to the British Transport Police and officers, according to a witness who confirmed it.

It's due to the normalization of these situations, the belief that boys will be boys, and it's something women should live with,Rhiannon, who hails from Llanelli.It shouldn't be like that,the woman says.These situations make women feel extremely threatened and uncomfortable. "Sex crimes can include rape, sexual assault, or sexual harassment. Harrassement, according to police, is anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or ineffective, such as staring, constant questioning, or catcalling.

Despite the increase, officers' fear of sexual assault and sexual harassment on trains and in stations is also under reported, and some fear that no one bothers to police at all. Maddie Waktare, who said she was sexually assaulted by a man sitting next to her when traveling on a train from London Waterloo, was like Maddie Wattare.

It was a crowded train, but he was taking up more space than he needed to,

the 30-year-old said.

His body was encroaching on me, making me feel ill. It was summer and I was wearing a dress, and he took my hand up the side of my thigh.

Maddie said she froze. He kept doing it, she added.

I stood up adamantly and glared at him. I was in shock and disbelief. I couldn't believe this had happened to me.

Now Maddie is furious for not reacting. I never thought I'd be someone who would freeze, she said.

It made me realize how normalized it is in society. You don't know what these people are capable of, so start with something like this and then their crimes will get worse. I should have reported it.

Dealing detectives could not identify a perpetrator in half of the cases out of 22,100 reports of sexual assaults on trains in the last ten years. To help

ensure criminals are identified and taken to justice faster,

the UK government has pledged £17 million to expand British Transport Police's access to station CCTV to help guarantee that prisoners are identified and brought to justice "more quickly.

The British Transport Police have released footage of a train conductor sexually assaulting an 18-year-old female passenger as part of the BBC probe. On a mainline train between London Paddington and Swansea, Nicholas McMurray was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman who cannot be identified for legal reasons. On a ride from Cardiff, she had been on her phone when Great Western Railway (GWR) train manager McMurray asked to check her train ticket before changing her clothes and sexually assaulting her. When she landed at Swansea Station, the passenger reported the incident to British Transport Police, and McMurray was arrested on the platform.

Officers were given clear bags over their hands to save evidence before being taken to the police station. The 38-year-old from Swansea was found guilty of sexual assault and assault by penetration at Swansena Crown Court earlier this year and placed on the sex offenders registry for life. McMurray was immediately dismissed from service, according to GWR.

He resigned immediately following the discipline process, in which the likely result was immediate dismissal,

a spokesperson said. McMurray had

completely exploited his position and mistook advantage of this young lady,

according to British Transport Police.

Sexual offenses involving children under the age of 18 have trebled on the railways in the last decade, from 146 reports in 2015 to 443 in 2025. Over 2,900 reports concerning children were published over the past ten years.

While any rise in crime figures is troubling, it's important to note that this is down in part due to an increase in intelligence-led operations involving plain clothes officers who are specifically trained to identify offenders. Many undercover police officers were on patrol stations looking for

people who are not getting trains.

People are getting up and down platforms trying to place themselves closer to lone females, or females that may be a little more vulnerable due to intoxication,

Sgt Morgan Andrews said. Officers also agree that men should be more aware of how women are treated. Julia was on a train with a friend from Bedford to London when she was given a flurry of men.

They continued acting and speaking in a different dialect, and it seemed they were planning something,

the 22-year-old actress, who hails from Switzerland but now lives in London.

At the end of the train ride, she said that the guys began to follow them.

They didn't follow us to the tube or follow us home, so they can't figure out what our intentions were,

she said. I was really anxious. I was afraid for my friend.Anyone who experiences or witnesses sexual assault or harassment on the rail network is encouraged to contact the British Transport Police on 61016 for information about the incident, time, and location. Det Ch Insp Mellor said,

No woman or girl should be made to feel ill on their rail journey.

Unacceptable conduct on the network has ramifications and will not be tolerated.

We are continuing to prosecute these criminals to account and ensure that the railway network is a safe place for everyone. Every allegation will be

taken seriously,

according to the Rail Delivery Group, which represents the UK's train operators.

There is zero tolerance on our network in terms of sexual assault," their chief executive Jacqueline Starr said.

People should be allowed to use the rail network without fearing for their safety, the UK government has said.

A rise in reports does not necessarily mean more incidents are happening,

a government spokesperson said. "It could be that more victims now feel ready to come forward as a result of increased awareness and messages around the internet.

If you have been affected by the issues discussed in this , please visit BBBC Action Line.

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