Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams have pledged their support for a major new charter aimed at tackling violence against women and girls as well as antisocial behaviour on public transport.
The charter, spearheaded by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), brings public transport operators from across the UK together to commit to strengthening staff training, improving communication with passengers about safety and reporting procedures, maximising the effectiveness of CCTV, and working closely with police, local authorities and other agencies to tackle incidents.
Alongside the charter, which was launched at a Parliamentary reception in Westminster on Tuesday 20 October, CPT is also calling on the Department for Transport to establish a national reporting mechanism that would be delivered locally, giving passengers across the country a simple, consistent way to report harassment, threatening behaviour and other incidents while travelling.
Sarah Boyd, Chief Executive of Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, said: “I’m proud that Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams have become signatories to the CPT Industry Charter on Antisocial Behaviour and Violence Against Women and Girls.
“We have a zero-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour, and the safety of our customers and colleagues is our utmost priority. By working together across the industry, we can help improve safety and confidence for everyone who travels on or works across public transport.
“We are committed to playing our part and helping to drive meaningful change in the communities we serve.”