Rise in Racial and Religious Hate Crime on UK Public Transport
New data reported by The Guardian shows a troubling rise in racial and religious hate crime on UK trains and buses, with women and people from ethnic minority communities disproportionately affected.
For many passengers, public transport should be routine — not something that comes with fear, vigilance or silence. Yet harassment, abuse and intimidation continue to go under-reported, leaving victims feeling unsafe and unheard.
Why It Matters
Hate crime on public transport is frequently under-reported. Many victims are unsure whether incidents are “serious enough” to report, fear retaliation, or lack confidence that action will be taken.
When hate goes unchallenged:
harm becomes normalised
fear of travel increases
communities feel excluded from public life
frontline staff face rising abuse
intelligence gaps prevent prevention
Addressing hate crime requires accessible reporting, visible support, and coordinated response, especially in transport environments where incidents can escalate quickly.
What This Means for Transport and Community Safety
Intersectional risk awareness:
Hate crime often overlaps with other risks (gender-based harassment, disability abuse, or youth vulnerability). Safety responses must recognise how these risks intersect
Simple, discreet reporting:
Passengers need easy ways to report incidents in the moment or after, without confrontation and without navigating multiple systems.
Support for staff and bystanders:
Drivers and transport staff need clear routes to log incidents and access support. Bystanders also need confidence and guidance on how to act safely.
Joined-up partnerships:
Tackling hate crime works best when transport operators, policing, councils and community organisations share insight and coordinate action.
How imabi Supports a Safer Transport Environment
At imabi, we see this rise in hate crime as a clear call for transport-focused, intersectional safety tools.
🟠 imabi Travel Guardian enables passengers and staff to:
report hate incidents discreetly
use geolocation to share location
access trusted guidance and support
receive real-time safety alerts
🔵 imabi Connect supports transport operators and local partners to:
share targeted hate crime and inclusion campaigns
issue live alerts and reassurance messaging
identify repeat locations and trends
coordinate responses across agencies
Together, they help reduce pressure on frontline policing, improve intelligence, and give victims clearer routes to be heard and supported.
imabi’s View
Hate crime thrives where reporting feels difficult and response feels distant. It reduces when people feel supported, systems are connected, and action is visible.
For imabi, this moment reinforces the need to integrate intersectional safety alerts, transport-specific reporting, and inclusive community communications into everyday travel.
Everyone deserves to travel without fear. Building safer transport means listening to those most affected, and giving them practical tools to speak up, be supported, and stay safe.
Source: The Guardian, January, 2026