A harrowing account has emerged from Esme Rice, who reported being sexually assaulted on a London Underground train, only to wait an astonishing 13 hours for a response from British Transport Police (BTP). Her experience highlights concerns over the adequacy of the force's dedicated reporting system, which Ms Rice had utilised in good faith after an incident on an Elizabeth Line train.
Ms Rice was travelling home to east London on 6 June when two men reportedly boarded her train and assaulted her just before 23:00 BST. She immediately messaged the BTP's 61016 text service, receiving an automated reply stating that she would be called shortly due to the urgency of the situation. Unfortunately, it took 13 hours for Ms Rice to receive a phone call from the police, raising questions about the effectiveness of this reporting mechanism.
The BTP has since issued an appeal to trace two men they wish to speak to in connection with the assault, which left Ms Rice shaken. The individuals are believed to have been part of a group of buskers who boarded and later disembarked the train at Stratford, at the same time as Ms Rice. Despite numerous calls for witnesses to come forward, no arrests have yet been made in relation to the incident.
Ms Rice has spoken out about her experience on BBC Radio London, highlighting the sense of vulnerability that women often feel when travelling alone, particularly at night. She expressed disappointment that the robust safety net she had expected from the BTP proved to be an 'illusion' in this instance. Moreover, Ms Rice revealed that numerous other women have since shared similar stories with her, all detailing extended waits for a return call after using the 61016 service.
In response to these concerns, a BTP spokesperson reiterated the force's commitment to tackling sexual offending on the railways and ensuring safe journeys for passengers. They noted that the 61016 number receives over a quarter of a million texts each year, a figure which continues to rise as passenger confidence in reporting crimes grows.