Transgender hate crimes on public transport rise by 70%

Hate crimes against transgender people using the rail network have risen by more than 70% in just one year according to new figures revealed by British Transport Police.

As part of Transgender Awareness Week which runs from today until November 20th, Linda-Jane Evans, Control Room Communications Officer for BTP, has been sharing her story: She said:

The 44-year-old served for 22 years as a telecommunications specialist in the RAF - including stints in Bosnia and Iraq.

She had a wife and daughter, but always knew she wasn’t living the life she wanted to.Linda-Jane said:

On the rail network, hate crimes against the trans community recorded by British Transport Police have increased by 71 per cent nationwide - compared to the same period last year.

The British Transport Police are now urging people to report offences.L-J said:

In August, police were appealing for information after a transgender woman was ‘verbally abused’ at Birmingham’s New Street Station.

The victim, aged in her 50s, was walking through the station when she was reportedly approached by a man and two women who started ‘insulting’ her.

Police said the victim challenged the group and the man picked up a large yellow cone and ‘followed the victim, swinging it at her’.

Transgender Awareness Week is an annual event, which aims to raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address some of the issues they face.