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PACTS is pleased to announce its 2026 Joint Working Party Meeting, taking place in person on 23rd September 2026 at the Smart Mobility Living Lab (TRL) in Woolwich, London. This event will bring together experts from across transport safety sectors for a morning plenary session exploring the topic of how the transport safety sector can tackle anti-social behaviour (reducing harassment and harm to users and workers on road, rail and air on private and public transport).
Topic
Anti-social behaviour that impacts everyone involved regardless of gender or role, be they people travelling by bus, driving a tram, serving on a plane or maintaining roads and vehicles. The session will examine how tackling anti-social behaviour contributes to achieving PACTS’ vision of a transport system free from fatalities and life-changing injuries, ensuring all users to feel safe.
Chair
Dr Sarah Jane Fox is a practitioner academic and expert in transport law, policy and strategy, specialising in road and aviation transport. She has held government roles, advised organisations including the European Parliament, UK Select Committee and European Union, and was instrumental in establishing the Orkney Islands as a testbed for electric vehicles. A Fulbright post-doctoral scholar, her research covers aviation safety, transport innovation, sustainability, autonomous systems, drones and future mobility, with her work presented to international organisations including the International Civil Aviation Organization, Federal Aviation Administration and United Nations.
Speakers
Dr Jonathan Flower is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Transport and Society at the University of the West of England, Bristol. I am a social scientist working in transport planning. My research focuses on creating safer streets and transport for the broad range of people that use them, ensuring that the needs of the most marginalised are addressed. My current research spans pedestrian crossing designs, cycling, wheeling and micromobility infrastructure, and public transport road safety in Nepal (especially motorcycle taxis and long-distance buses).
Paula Shortland, West Midlands Police Education Officer for the West Midlands Safer Travel Partnership, leading education and engagement to help people feel safer and more confident when using public transport. After a career in public transport promoting sustainable travel and behaviour change, she has spent the last nine years helping to improve passenger safety and tackle antisocial behaviour across the West Midlands. Paula works closely with schools, communities and transport partners to build confidence in reporting unwanted behaviour and leads the Partnership’s work on violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Elle Hughes is an Antisocial Behaviour Officer with British Transport Police, working within the West Midlands Safer Travel Partnership for over two years. She investigates reports received through the See Something, Say Something reporting service, applies a range of interventions and sanctions to tackle antisocial behaviour and is part of the Empower team, helping to improve the safety of women and girls on public transport. Elle has a degree in Criminology & Policing and previously worked for six years as a Border Force Officer, giving her a strong background in protecting the public and supporting communities.
Agenda
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| Time | Event |
| 10:00 | Registration |
| 10:30 | Speakers: Dr Sarah Jane Fox, transport law, policy and strategy expert Dr Jonathan Flower, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Transport and Society, University of the West of England, Bristol Paula Shortland, West Midlands Safer Travel Partnership Elle Hughes, British Transport Police |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Individual Working Party meetings Road Environment Working Party Road User Behaviour Working Party Vehicle Design Working Party Rail Safety Working Party Air Safety Group |
| 16:00/16:30 | Close |
This is an exclusive event for PACTS members. If you’re not yet a member but would like to join us, you can learn more and sign up here.
We are incredibly grateful to TRL for generously providing the venue free of charge. As a charity, we always appreciate support to help cover costs such as catering, travel, and accommodation for our team and Working Party leads. If you’re interested in sponsoring this event or supporting our work, please get in touch—we’d love to hear from you!
