Having been a victim of crime and knowing that others have been victimised makes people afraid of using public transport. Reducing crime and disorder on public transport systems is therefore fundamental to reducing passengers’ fear of crime. But fear does not always track actual levels of crime and many passengers are fearful even when crime risks are low. It is therefore important that managers act, whenever possible, to increase passenger’s feelings of security. 

In particular, research has revealed that many passengers feel unsafe when walking to and from bus stops and stations. It is therefore important that passengers are helped to feel safer not just when they are using transport facilities, but over the whole journey. To this end, transport managers can work with other transport providers, such as local taxi firms, to provide ‘seamless’ journeys to and from train or underground stations. Bus operators can help to improve feelings of security over the whole journey by providing more request stops and allowing passengers to hail buses. Operators can work with local authorities and police to improve lighting around stations or to develop secure pedestrian routes.

The Department for Transport has produced guidance to assist practitioners to develop secure transport routes using a whole journey approach. See the full report Secure Transport Route Manchester (Victoria) to Clitheroe Pilot.

The Department has also looked at the security issues involved in pedestrian journeys. See the full report Personal Security Issues in Pedestrian Journeys

This section summarises information about reducing fear at stops and stations and on vehicles. As with the Guides referred to in the previous section, this information will be most useful to practitioners who understand the basic principles of problem solving (see the Appendix to this Toolkit).

Findings from the 2002 fear of crime research by Crime Concern