In relation to Transport Scotland's report, Women's and girls' views and experiences of personal safety when using public transport, which …

Following recommendations made in the research report on women and girls' safety on public transport, a number of actions are being taken forward. These include: Transport Scotland officials are continuing to work with colleagues across Government to ensure that specific actions in development to tackle antisocial behaviour on bus take into account the safety of women and girls. ScotRail, Network Rail and British Transport Police are working together with stakeholders to deliver a wide range of activity to reduce anti-social behaviours across the rail network. For example, ScotRail established a Travel Safe Team, made up of 24 officers and 3 supervisors, in 2023. The team work mainly across the central belt and in the southwest and ScotRail are looking into how it can be expanded. The team promote safe behaviours as much as challenge bad behaviour. They engage closely with customers and staff to identify issues; this is then followed by targeted engagements e.g. they will spend time talking with (and maybe travelling with) people to explain the importance of buying tickets and the benefits of considerate behaviour to everyone. All ScotRail train carriages are fitted with CCTV. All but two ScotRail stations have CCTV. The two stations without CCTV are on private land and legal issues are currently being worked through. Of the ScotRail stations that have CCTV 246 are monitored continuously within control centres. Waverley has its own CCTV system and control room. Glasgow Central has plans to update its CCTV, which is out of date, but it does not have a dedicated and staffed control room for monitoring it. ScotRail are investing in increasing numbers of body worn cameras and encourage staff to wear them. They are working to persuade Trade Unions in particular of their benefits. Advertising campaigns and literature on board trains and at stations highlight ways to report incidents to the British Transport Police, for example via the Text 6-101-6 service or by reporting via the Railway Guardian app.Transport Scotland is writing to Scottish Rail Holdings to draw attention to the research recommendations, and asking that the recommendations be taken forward. Transport Scotland will also circulate the report from the stakeholder event hosted by Transport Scotland in December 2023 and the research report to bus and ferry operators to highlight the recommendations. The report from the stakeholder event can be found on the Transport Scotland website here: Women's Safety on Public Transport Workshop: Next steps to ensure a safer public transport system for women and girls in Scotland. Transport Scotland will publish a page on the Transport Scotland website which will feature the Principles that have emerged from the stakeholder event and provide links to other relevant information produced by Transport Scotland and partner organisations. Transport Scotland will report on progress of the research recommendations on an annual basis to coincide with 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, and also as part of reporting on the National Transport Strategy. Transport Scotland will continue to work with Violence Against Women and Girls colleagues across the Scottish Government to support the sharing of good practice in relation to progress on the principles. Transport Scotland will also publish research which explores literature around the use of personal safety apps for use in public spaces, particularly on public transport. In addition, the Cabinet Secretary held a round table with rail delivery partners and stakeholders to ensure collaboration on measures that will increase the safety of passengers and staff. Transport Scotland also work with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) to support sharing best practice amongst bus operators.