The year 2013 wasn’t a particularly safe one on public transit, as there were more than 100 sexual offences reported on public traffic – but Transit Police, as well as advocates, hope to change that.
Sexual offences include voyeurism, indecent acts and inappropriate touching, among others. In the first half of 2013, there were 57 reported offences, and 75 were reported in the last six months, according to Anne Drennan, Transit Police spokesperson.
“We know it’s probably around one in 10, or 10 per cent, of all sexual offences on transit are reported,” Drennan noted. “The statistics, while concerning because they’re going up, are not really telling the true story or giving a clear picture since we know there are so many unreported offences.”
Drennan said there’s no geographic area in particular that is prone to incidents, because predators are mobile when using the system.
“It can happen anywhere,” she told the NOW. “They can find somebody they think is a vulnerable target anywhere along the system riding SkyTrain, the Canada Line, it can just happen anywhere.”
Although Transit Police are alarmed over the rise in offences, it’s still a relatively small number compared to the high number of people who ride the rails each year, which is around one million, Drennan said.
Transit Police Sgt. Wendy Hawthorne has been watching out for people’s safety on transit for the last 30 years, and she says sexual offences have been a constant issue.
“It’s always a constant,” Hawthorne said, when asked if sexual incidents have gotten better or worse during her career. “I can’t say whether it’s getting better or worse, the problem is people reporting. We believe only 10 per cent report, so that to me says that we need to do a better job of encouraging people to report.”
The biggest change over the past 30 years has been social media and the ease with which people can report, Hawthorne added.
“I think the dynamics of our community and city has changed, with ESL students coming in now,” she said, adding that language is often a barrier. “In my past experiences, they are often the vulnerable target. I don’t like to say vulnerable, but those who may not be as comfortable in the environment and feel uncomfortable in reporting has increased exponentially.”
Hawthorne was a speaker at the recent women transforming cities café meeting at the University of British Columbia, which addressed sexual assault, safety and public transit. She said the attendance was high and diverse.
“We have such a wonderful transit system, and I don’t think sometimes we know how fortunate we are,” she said. “At the end of the day, our main goal is to make sure people have a safe ride, free of harassment and feel comfortable. They’re entitled to that.”
Simon Fraser University student Katie Nordgren, and co-creator of the popular blog, Harassment on TransLink, was also a speaker at the UBC event on Jan. 13. She said many ideas about how to tackle transit safety were brainstormed by the almost 50 people who came.
“We were … floating ideas on how we can bring this to our municipal governments,” Nordgren told the NOW. “How can we make this a worthy issue in all jurisdictions? What does it look like when it’s a fixed, functioning system where everyone is safe?”
Nordgren said she wasn’t surprised that the main topics of conversation were about education and awareness.
“Some interesting ideas were raised, too, like specifically targeting men and boys instead of speaking just to women and girls, to teach them ways to protect themselves,” she said. “But teaching men and boys to respect women was the suggested discourse.”
Another factor that was raised was modelling good behaviour and how to encourage and teach that behaviour, Nordgren said.
Since her blog sharing harassment stories by almost anyone who submits one was established in late October, it has received 80,000 views and has more than 160 story posts.
She said the Transit Police monitor her blog to stay on top of issues that have arisen, as well.
“There was a submitter who alluded to having taken photographs of somebody who harassed her or a friend,” Nordgren said, saying a constable saw the story and asked to get in touch with the person. “She decided to provide the photos to the police, … hopefully it will result in a conviction.”
Transit Police can be instantly notified of an issue, sexual or otherwise, happening on transit by texting 87-77-77 with the information. If it’s a major emergency, contact 911.
