Female only train carriages might reduce sexual assaults

The Birmingham Mail today carries a story about Transport Minister Claire Perry’s suggestion that the introduction of women-only train carriages could be introduced in a bid to reduce sexual assaults, which have been on the rise. (1,117 recorded by British Transport Police to year ending March 2014 – up 20%)

Read the rest here http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/women-only-train-carriages-could-cut-7854436

There is nothing new under the sun, it seems, and a quick internet search reveals that this is certainly not a new idea and there are a number of countries around the world who provide women only transport services including taxis, buses and train carriages and in some instances whole trains.  Often the provision is limited to rush-hour times only or after a certain hour at night.

In Japan, where such provision has been existence for around 50 years on their notoriously packed city train services, there have been complaints from both married couples and men who feel they are being tarnished with the same brush as the offenders

It turns out that the last ‘ladies-only’ carriage compartment on a British train was withdrawn in 1977 due to a combination of different train types being introduced and equality legislation which prevented gender-specific provisions (See Wiki)

Whether this idea is actually practical for rush-hour London Underground trains remains to be seen, but it does seem worth investigating.

What do you think? 

Have your say in the Forum here http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2247