Campaign to crack down on sex attacks as teenager speaks out
TRANSPORT POLICE are launching a new campaign today urging victims of sex attacks to report offences.
The Every Report Builds A Picture campaign highlights how multiple reports from different people can help British Transport Police (BTP) “build a picture” of offenders – even if some cases do not make it to court.
The initiative is being rolled out today as part of the Report It To Stop It initiative, which was launched in 2015 to tackle underreporting of sexual offences.
The campaign has been backed by a teenager who was sexually assaulted at Newcastle Central Station last year after returning from visiting a friend in Leeds.
Harriotte Lane, 16, has waived her right to anonymity in a bid to encourage others to come forward and report incidents of unwanted sexual behaviour.
The teenager reported the offence in August to police, which led to another victim coming forward. Her attacker appeared before the courts in November last year. Harriotte, who was crowned Miss Teen Galaxy England in March, was grabbed inappropriately by the man moments after waving to her mother when she was walking across the station.
“I didn’t realise it was sexual assault,” she said.
“I didn’t realise I could speak up about it. Mum knew. The police were standing right behind us and were great. We instantly went across the bridge and found the man who did it.”
She said the incident had left her very upset, and added: “If any sexual assault happens, people need to stand up. I came forward – it was hard, I thought it was going to be embarrassing but I was taken very seriously.
“Sexual assault isn’t ok – even if you think its minor, every situation is taken seriously by BTP.”
The 55-year-old was sentenced to a 12-month community order, handed 250 hours of unpaid work and placed on the sex offender register for five years.
BTP is launching a week of action today, which will see uniformed officers step up patrols and advise commuters on reporting unwanted sexual behaviour.
Plain-clothes officers will also be looking out for potential offenders.
Information can be reported to BTP discreetly by texting 61016.