The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has been formally recognised for its work to tackle violence against women and girls.
The organisation has achieved White Ribbon accreditation, a national mark awarded to bodies that make an active, strategic commitment to preventing harassment, abuse and violence against women and girls.
To gain accreditation, organisations must appoint a senior White Ribbon ambassador or champion and put in place a detailed three-year action plan.
White Ribbon Day
The announcement coincides with White Ribbon Day, a UK-wide moment to raise awareness of the need to prevent violence, harassment and abuse.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the WMCA, has played a major role in this achievement. Its team of 13 Transport Safety Officers (TSOs) has undergone specialist White Ribbon training, meaning all TSOs are now accredited ambassadors (men) or champions (women).
They also complete empathy-based virtual reality training to better understand women’s experiences on the transport network, alongside stalking and harassment awareness training delivered by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
‘Violence against women and girls is utterly unacceptable’
Richard Parker, mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe, always. Violence against women and girls is utterly unacceptable and we all have a duty to call it out and stop it.
“I’m committed to ensuring our public transport network is safe for every passenger, and achieving White Ribbon accreditation is an important step in strengthening that promise.”
Michael Sandland, operations manager for the TSOs and a White Ribbon Ambassador, added: “Our TSOs are not just a visible presence, they’re advocates for change.
“Safety must be designed into every journey, and that starts with listening to women and building their experiences into how the network operates.”
As part of its commitment, the WMCA has also launched ‘What Could I Do?’, an awareness video based on real incidents reported to the Safer Travel Partnership. The film shows how to report concerns and how bystanders can safely intervene.
A dedicated Safer Travel Education Officer delivers workshops across schools, faith groups, survivor organisations and newly arrived communities, encouraging reporting, improving confidence and addressing barriers to safe travel.
Since 2014, nearly 150,000 people have been engaged through the Safer Travel Partnership’s Empower campaign, which raises awareness and encourages reporting across the transport network.
The TSO model has received national attention, with the Department for Transport seeking WMCA’s support to explore rolling it out in other regions.
