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| Jeremy Corbyn sparks women-only train carriage row | Jeremy Corbyn sparks women-only train carriage row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has said he would consider women-only rail carriages to help stem a rise in assaults on public transport. | Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn has said he would consider women-only rail carriages to help stem a rise in assaults on public transport. |
| Mr Corbyn told the Independent he would consult women on the suggestion. | Mr Corbyn told the Independent he would consult women on the suggestion. |
| But the idea was attacked as outdated and unhelpful by his Labour leadership rivals Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham. | But the idea was attacked as outdated and unhelpful by his Labour leadership rivals Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham. |
| And other critics, including Conservative women's minister Nicky Morgan, said it smacked of "segregation". | And other critics, including Conservative women's minister Nicky Morgan, said it smacked of "segregation". |
| It comes after British Transport Police (BTP) figures suggested sex offences on trains and at stations had risen by 25% to record levels. | It comes after British Transport Police (BTP) figures suggested sex offences on trains and at stations had risen by 25% to record levels. |
| 'Turning back clock' | 'Turning back clock' |
| Mr Corbyn said: "My intention would be to make public transport safer for everyone from the train platform to the bus stop to the mode of transport itself. | Mr Corbyn said: "My intention would be to make public transport safer for everyone from the train platform to the bus stop to the mode of transport itself. |
| "However, I would consult with women and open it up to hear their views on whether women-only carriages would be welcome - and also if piloting this at times and [on] modes of transport where harassment is reported most frequently would be of interest." | "However, I would consult with women and open it up to hear their views on whether women-only carriages would be welcome - and also if piloting this at times and [on] modes of transport where harassment is reported most frequently would be of interest." |
| According to the Independent, he said it was "simply unacceptable" that many females have to adapt their daily lives to avoid being harassed in public, including while using public transport. | According to the Independent, he said it was "simply unacceptable" that many females have to adapt their daily lives to avoid being harassed in public, including while using public transport. |
| The Independent said he would also call for a 24-hour hotline for reporting harassment and assault. | The Independent said he would also call for a 24-hour hotline for reporting harassment and assault. |
| Rail minister Claire Perry suggested introducing women-only carriages was an idea worth considering in September last year. Compartments solely for females were last used on UK railways in 1977. | Rail minister Claire Perry suggested introducing women-only carriages was an idea worth considering in September last year. Compartments solely for females were last used on UK railways in 1977. |
| But a report last year for the Department of Transport, by Middlesex University, said bringing them back would be a "retrograde step" that "could be thought of as insulting, patronising and shaming to both men and women". | But a report last year for the Department of Transport, by Middlesex University, said bringing them back would be a "retrograde step" that "could be thought of as insulting, patronising and shaming to both men and women". |
| Mr Corbyn's proposal was seized on by his Labour leadership rivals, who said it would not help cut violence against women. | Mr Corbyn's proposal was seized on by his Labour leadership rivals, who said it would not help cut violence against women. |
| Yvette Cooper said it would be "turning the clock back, not tackling the problem". | Yvette Cooper said it would be "turning the clock back, not tackling the problem". |
| 'Society-wide strategy' | 'Society-wide strategy' |
| Ms Cooper, who is calling for stronger laws to protect women from violence and harassment, added: "We shouldn't have to shut ourselves away from men for our own safety. | Ms Cooper, who is calling for stronger laws to protect women from violence and harassment, added: "We shouldn't have to shut ourselves away from men for our own safety. |
| "The staff needed to enforce the segregated carriages should be keeping all the carriages safe instead." | "The staff needed to enforce the segregated carriages should be keeping all the carriages safe instead." |
| Andy Burnham said: "In this day and age, we shouldn't be even considering the idea of segregated train travel. | Andy Burnham said: "In this day and age, we shouldn't be even considering the idea of segregated train travel. |
| "As a dad of two young girls, I want to see a proper society-wide strategy on tackling violence against women." | "As a dad of two young girls, I want to see a proper society-wide strategy on tackling violence against women." |
| Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the health select committee, said women-only carriages "just normalise unacceptable attitudes". | Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the health select committee, said women-only carriages "just normalise unacceptable attitudes". |
| She added: "In countries where women are segregated on public transport, this is a marker for disempowerment, not safety." | She added: "In countries where women are segregated on public transport, this is a marker for disempowerment, not safety." |
| 'Good idea' | 'Good idea' |
| Everyday Sexism campaigner Laura Bates also rejected the idea, saying on Twitter: "Women-only carriages suggest harassment/sexual violence is innate & inevitable so women's responsibility to avoid." | Everyday Sexism campaigner Laura Bates also rejected the idea, saying on Twitter: "Women-only carriages suggest harassment/sexual violence is innate & inevitable so women's responsibility to avoid." |
| But journalist and Jeremy Corbyn supporter Rahila Gupta said: "If there is a demand and it makes women feel safe then it's a good idea." | But journalist and Jeremy Corbyn supporter Rahila Gupta said: "If there is a demand and it makes women feel safe then it's a good idea." |
| Countries that have introduced train carriages only for females include Mexico, Japan, India and Indonesia. | Countries that have introduced train carriages only for females include Mexico, Japan, India and Indonesia. |
| BTP recorded 1,399 sexual offences in 2014-15 in England, Scotland and Wales - up 282 on the previous year. | BTP recorded 1,399 sexual offences in 2014-15 in England, Scotland and Wales - up 282 on the previous year. |
| The force said the rise in sex crime figures was mainly because of a campaign to encourage reporting of these offences, which was launched in London in 2013 after a survey suggested that 90% of such attacks went unreported. | The force said the rise in sex crime figures was mainly because of a campaign to encourage reporting of these offences, which was launched in London in 2013 after a survey suggested that 90% of such attacks went unreported. |