Reports of sexual harassment on LA public transit drop — slightly

New survey results show a slight drop in sexual harassment complaints on Los Angeles County public transit, which the agency said is a result of its efforts to combat it.

The agency conducts semi-annual customer surveys of about 20,000 riders regarding their experiences while using Metro services. A survey conducted last winter showed more than 1 in 5 of respondents had experienced unwanted sexual advances while using transit.

In response, Metro launched a public service campaign last April to address the problem. Officials placed posters and informational cards at stations and aboard buses and trains urging the public to report instances of sexual harassment by either calling a hotline or using Metro's Transit Watch smartphone app. They did the same through a public service announcement playing on some transit screens.

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Since the campaign began, the number of survey respondents who report experiencing sexual harassment has dropped 3 percent according to recently released data.

Metro spokesman Paul Gonzalez credits the campaign.

"Now people who may have engaged in this behavior are under notice that they’re going to be observed and they’re going to be caught and they’re going to be prosecuted," he said.

In recent years several big cities have tried to address harassment on transit. Last year, New York installed cameras inside subway cars and London started a text message system to report the crimes.