West Midlands Buses Add Safety Training for Women
West Midlands bus drivers to receive specialized training to protect women from harassment
West Midlands Buses Add Safety Training for Women
Bus drivers across West Midlands will receive specialized training to protect women from harassment on public transport, officials confirmed Tuesday. Jess Phillips, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said investment will make regional buses safer following reports that young women avoid transit due to safety fears. The UK bus and coach industry launched the national driver training programme March 17, 2026.
Context
The safety initiative responds to concerns that young women feel uncomfortable using public transport, which affects their career opportunities, Phillips said. Women working night shifts at locations like Birmingham Airport report particular anxiety about transit safety, according to officials. The changes follow an incident March 17, 2026, when West Midlands Police Chief Inspector Amanda Thompson intervened after witnessing an intoxicated man swearing at female passengers on a bus. Thompson, who was in plain clothes without police equipment, confronted the man and told him his behavior was inappropriate and needed to stop.
Training Details
National Express Bus announced training is being rolled out to all colleagues to empower them to intervene safely, defuse situations, and properly support and report incidents. The programme aims to tackle violence against women and girls while strengthening passenger confidence, transit officials said. Labour's strategy promises to explore expanding CCTV provision on the bus network to increase feelings of safety and reduce investigation times. Officials haven't specified completion dates for the training rollout or detailed timelines for CCTV expansion.
Implementation
The training programme launched March 17, 2026, as part of a broader industry effort to address harassment on public transport. Thompson shared her intervention experience at Birmingham's Civic Event on Protecting Women from Harm at Birmingham City Council, emphasizing that women should be able to use public transport without fear of being offended or harassed. The Safer Travel Partnership operates between West Midlands Police, British Transport Police, and Transport for West Midlands, including VAWG champions and Project Empower initiatives designed to tackle unwanted sexual behavior on public transport.
Rider Impact
The safety measures aim to restore confidence among women riders who've avoided buses due to harassment concerns, officials said. Phillips confirmed investment will support the safety improvements, though specific funding amounts weren't disclosed. Women should see increased driver awareness and intervention capabilities as training expands across the network. Moovit provides real-time updates for West Midlands bus routes and service information.
