Transport for London (TfL) is turning to virtual reality to encourage passengers to step in safely when they witness hate crimes, harassment, or sexual offences on the city’s vast public transport network.
The initiative, announced on Thursday (12 March), will see TfL deploy VR headsets at pop-up awareness events to simulate real-world scenarios of abuse on buses, trains, or stations.
The goal is to build confidence in “active bystander” techniques that prioritise de-escalation and support over direct confrontation.
Participants don the headsets and experience immersive situations where a fellow passenger is targeted with verbal abuse – often motivated by race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics.
Instead of freezing or walking away, users practice safe interventions like striking up a casual conversation with the victim to distract from the perpetrator, making eye contact to signal solidarity, checking in afterward, or assisting with reporting the incident to authorities.
“Being an active bystander isn’t about confronting the perpetrator — it’s about distraction and helping the targeted person, if that feels safe,” said Siwan Hayward, TfL’s Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement. “These virtual reality headsets are a great way to explore how to do that in case we ever encounter a real-life situation.”
The VR demonstrations are part of broader events at Victoria station (10:00-12:00) and Stratford bus station (13:00-15:00) on 13 March, where members of the public can try the experience for free alongside representatives from TfL, BTP, and MPS.
“Ensuring Londoners’ safety is the Mayor’s number one priority, and tackling hate crime and abuse on our transport network is central to this mission,” said Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport.
“We all have a role to play in stamping out hate crimes and supporting victims, which is why I encourage all Londoners to take part in these awareness events and learn how to safely intervene and provide support. Together, we can build a safer, fairer London for everyone.”
The initiative comes amid ongoing efforts to boost reporting and deterrence, including expanded CCTV trials in bus shelters, new Piccadilly line trains with on-board cameras rolling out by the end of 2026, and a dedicated transport taskforce launched in October 2025 focused on hate crime and violence against women and girls.
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