Izzy, a 21-year-old university student from Wolverhampton, never imagined her routine train journeys would become scenes of distress. Over a span of just five months, she experienced two separate incidents of harassment while travelling on public transport in the West Midlands – moments that left her frozen with fear and unsure of what to do.
Although she was aware of the British Transport Police’s non-emergency helpline, 61016, Izzy confesses that in the heat of the moment, reporting the harassment was the last thing on her mind. “I never think to do it. When I’m in those situations, it’s the last thing that comes to my brain,” she explained.
Her first ordeal took place on a warm July afternoon in 2025. While heading to Birmingham to meet a friend, Izzy found herself sharing a carriage with a man who struck up a conversation after their eyes met. The man began asking intrusive personal questions, causing Izzy to freeze and try to ignore him. “It was insane. I didn’t know what to do,” she said, describing how the man eventually fled the train — a terrifying experience she still downplays as “a silly thing.”
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Just months later in November, Izzy faced an even more alarming situation. After a long day of studying, she boarded the train home with her friend. Spotting two visibly intoxicated men, she felt uneasy but settled in. When her friend got off a stop earlier, Izzy stood near the train doors to feel safer. Suddenly, a man of about 20 appeared and behaved oddly — approaching her multiple times and wedgeing himself between her and the door, invading her personal space without reason.
“He got himself wedged in between me and the train door, facing me. I was like what? There wasn’t much of a gap between us, and he had space to stand elsewhere and sit,” Izzy recalled. Disturbed, she moved away quickly. The man then began making gang signs at her reflection in the train window, escalating her panic. As the train pulled into Wolverhampton, Izzy fled and found refuge in her father’s car.
The British Transport Police encourages passengers to use the 61016 text line for reporting non-emergency crimes, emphasizing its discreet and direct access 24/7. A spokesperson noted that over 250,000 texts were received during the 2024/25 reporting period, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. They urged the public to save the number and reach out for support, promising every report is carefully processed and appropriately handled.
Izzy’s experiences highlight the emotional toll and confusion many face during harassment on public transport. Her story is a reminder of the importance of awareness around reporting options and the need for continued efforts to make travel safer for all.