TfL & Met Launch 12-Month CCTV Trial to Combat Violence Against Women on London Buses
Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police (Met) have joined forces to launch a 12-month CCTV trial at 20 bus shelters across London. The initiative aims to tackle violence against women and girls on public transport, following a successful initial test at five bus shelters earlier this year.
The trial, which began this month, will see CCTV footage retained for 31 days and accessible only to the Met to support police investigations. The locations were carefully chosen to include busy areas with high footfall, quieter locations, higher crime areas, and places where women and girls have reported feeling unsafe. This diverse coverage aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the situation and its impact.
TfL will gather feedback from customers and stakeholders throughout the trial to assess the impact on safety and security perceptions. The Met commander Ben Russell stated that the pilot aims to protect women and girls and help bring dangerous predators to justice using CCTV as a key tool. The trial is a joint effort between TfL and the Met, with the British Transport Police and mental health and victim support organizations also involved.
The 12-month CCTV test at 20 bus stops in London is expected to provide valuable insights into the issue of violence against women and girls on public transport. The award for transport safety at the CiTTi Awards 2024 will take place in spring 2024, where the impact and success of this trial will be recognized.
