The Issue

My name is Camille and I am a 21 year old student. I’ve grown up in London and using the tube has been vital to my daily life since I started secondary school aged 11. For millions of people it is often the only practical way of getting around the city, and I’ve had enough of women being unsafe and feeling like I can't do anything to change that.

Public harassment of women on the London Underground is a growing issue, and TFL’s approach is failing - we always see it, we do say it, but it’s still not sorted. That’s why I’m calling for Sadiq Khan to introduce women-only carriages.

Growing up, my parents required me to send a daily ‘SAS’ message to the family WhatsApp chat - which stood for ‘Safely At School’. At the time I saw it as a mission to be completed, like an active agent in the field and if they didn’t get my message, the battalion would be spurred into action. I took my mission very seriously. However, it wasn't until I was 13 that I fully understood why my parents were so concerned about my solo route to school. 

I distinctly remember, to this day, being about to get off the Circle Line at Baker Street and a man harassing me to spend the day with him, instead of go to school. I was utterly terrified and the thought that kept coming into my mind was ‘but I’m in school uniform?’ Unfortunately, even that is not armour enough to protect against intimidation, harassment or even assault.

It was not a rare occurrence for girls at my school to arrive in tears from having experienced or witnessed something traumatising on the underground.

One of the more extreme scenarios was a close friend of mine who was threatened with a knife by a man on multiple occasions, her trauma was so severe that she required a police escort for an extended period to ensure her safety. No one should ever experience fear like this simply commuting.

This system my family had in place was not preventative but reactive, similar to the TfL's approach. This is not enough.

The Stats

• Sexual offences on London’s transport network rose by 10.5% in 2024, figures from Transport for London (TfL) show.
• Over a third of women in London have experienced harassment on public transport, according to a report by British Transport Police. 
• Additionally, the latest Girlguiding survey found that more than half (56%) of girls and young women aged 11 to 21 feel unsafe travelling alone on public transport. 

The Solution 

Harassment is particularly prevalent on the Tube because its crowded, enclosed, and anonymous environment can make victims more vulnerable and perpetrators feel less accountable. Overcrowded conditions also provide perpetrators opportunities to harass women unnoticed or without consequence. Additionally, limited staff presence and difficulties in promptly reporting incidents mean offenders often act without fear of being caught or challenged.

Cities such as Tokyo, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro have successfully introduced this measure, creating safer commuting options for women and sending a clear message that gender-based harassment is unacceptable.

Transport for London (TfL) can lead by example, showing they take women’s safety seriously by immediately introducing at least one dedicated women-only carriage on every Tube line.

This initiative is simple, effective, and affordable. It requires minimal investment—just clear signage on carriages and platforms directing women to dedicated spaces.

We call on TfL to act now by providing women with a safer commuting space choice. Please sign and share this petition to urge immediate action, ensuring safety and comfort for every passenger.