SEXUAL offences on trains have risen by a worrying fifth in one year and campaigners warned yesterday that reducing the number of guards on trains has put passenger safety in jeopardy.

The British Transport Police recorded 1,117 incidents in 2014, up from 925 in 2012/13 — a rise of 20.8 per cent.

Sexual offences against women increased from 485 to 624 — making up the large bulk of the rise.

Cases of indecent exposure rose saw a smaller rise from 141 to 148 and the figure for other sexual offences increased from 272 to 303.

And sexual crimes recorded against men rose from 27 to 42.

Incidents involving drugs rose by a notable 15.4 per cent — from 3,460 to 3,993. And drug incidents on the London Tube and the Docklands Light Railway rocketed by over half — from 591 to 913.

Figures included crime across the National Rail networks of England, Scotland and Wales and Transport for London lines.

British Transport Police said that overall notifiable crime fell by 5.7 per cent, from 53,885 to 50,840.

The news came after privateer operator Northern Rail launched a poster campaign boasting of the role of on-train staff in providing “help and information” — despite them raising no objection to government plans to take conductors off their network.

Rail union RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT has argued that the conductor/guard role on our trains is essential in delivering both a safe environment and high-quality services.

“That position is backed up by Northern in its external publicity, while behind the scenes it is conniving with the government to axe those very same staff in the future.”

Addressing the rising crime incidents, he added: “These are truly shocking figures which just illustrate the complacency over the safety of the travelling the public which is endemic among the train companies, the regulators and the politicians.”

British Transport Police said the rise in reported sexual offences reflected the success of the force’s Project Guardian, which “focuses on increasing awareness and confidence among the public to report unwanted sexual behaviour to the police or members of staff.”