Birmingham Buses to Receive Safety Investment for Women and Girls
MP for Yardley Jess Phillips has confirmed significant investment will be made to enhance the safety of West Midlands buses for women and girls. This initiative aims to address concerns that many young women feel apprehensive about using public transport, particularly during late hours.
Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls
As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls since July 2024, Phillips highlighted the critical role of public transport in combating violence. Statistics from the year ending March 2025 show that one in eight women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. Labour's strategy includes a goal to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, with bus safety improvements forming a key component.
Phillips explained: "In the West Midlands, the franchises are all coming up for renewal and change. So we're looking at what we could do across the board with regard to safety on the buses."
Key Safety Measures Being Implemented
The investment will focus on expanding CCTV coverage across the bus network to increase feelings of safety and streamline investigations. Additionally, driver training programmes have been launched to empower staff to intervene safely and support passengers effectively.
- Enhanced CCTV systems on buses to monitor and deter incidents.
- National driver training initiatives rolled out from March 17, 2026.
- Collaboration with bus companies like National Express to improve visibility and response protocols.
Impact on Career Opportunities and Youth
Phillips emphasised that unsafe transport can limit job prospects for young women, especially those working night shifts at locations like Birmingham Airport. "If you were a 21-year-old young woman and you've got to go on the bus at 11 o'clock at night for your midnight shift, you'd probably say no to that job," she noted. This sentiment underscores the broader societal impact of transport safety.
Engagement with young people, including students from Solihull Sixth Form College, revealed that bus safety is a top concern for youth travelling to and from educational institutions. Phillips facilitated discussions between students and bus companies to address these issues directly.
Industry Response and Ongoing Efforts
A spokesperson for National Express Bus stated: "Hundreds of thousands of bus journeys are made safely every single day but we will not tolerate anybody who makes others feel uncomfortable or unsafe while travelling with us." The company has implemented measures such as the See Something Say Something text line (81018) and high-definition CCTV on all buses, with over 3,000 drivers receiving specialised training.
Phillips praised the Department of Transport as a willing participant in these safety strategies, indicating strong governmental support for the initiatives. These changes are expected to not only protect women and girls but also benefit all passengers, including children and young people, by fostering a safer travel environment across Birmingham.
