A CAMPAIGN has been launched to encourage victims of unwanted sexual behaviour on trains to report offences.

The second part of the Report It To Stop It campaign, which was launched by the British Transport Police (BTP) in 2015 , the campaign aims to tackle under-reporting of sexual offences.

Unwanted sexual behaviour is anything that makes a person feel uncomfortable and passengers can report instances anonymously by texting 61016.

Inspector Hubbs, who covers East Lancashire for the British Transport Police, said the number of reports received has increased by 97 per cent following the 2015 campaign.

He said: “Some victims don’t report the abuse because society suggests that this unwanted sexual behaviour on trains is the norm, and our message is that it is not OK. It’s about trying to make people feel safer on the railways and the text line plays a big part in that. A lot of people don’t want to be making a phone call and letting the suspect know in case they are confronted. We investigate every report and by letting us know immediately, we can intercept the train and try to apprehend the offender.”