We filmed with police hunting sexual predators on Britain's transport network

Warning: This report contains distressing themes and sexual languageI met Esme just 10 days after she had been sexually assaulted while travelling home on a train.She had recently shared a video on TikTok describing what had happened. Thousands of people watched it and hundreds contacted her to share their own experiences.As we spoke about the impact the assault had had on her, she told me it was the second time she had reported a sexual offence to British Transport Police using its 61016 text service.The first happened in March 2024 on a Jubilee line train near Canning Town."It was standing room only," she told me. "I looked down and there was a man masturbating on me."Despite CCTV appeals, nobody has ever been identified.British Transport Police told ITV News that while its investigation into the June 2026 assault remains ongoing, the 2024 investigation was closed after "all lines of enquiry were exhausted", pending any new information.Esme admits that has shaken her confidence.“They just have to wait and hope that maybe these people might assault you again. Or they might offend again, and they'll catch them someplace else,” she said.To understand what happens after someone sends that first text message, ITV News was given exclusive access to the force's new Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce.Recorded offences have risen by almost 18% over the past year. British Transport Police believes that rise is being driven by more victims feeling able to report what has happened to them.---------------------------• Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj • Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/newsFollow ITV News on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@itvnews?lang=enFollow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/ Follow ITV News on X: https://twitter.com/itvnews