The UIC Security Platform Human Factors Working Group (HFWG) met in Paris at the UIC Headquarters on 13 May 2025. This was the first meeting under the chairmanship of Mr. Jean-Ernest Celestin (Acting Deputy Chief, VIA Rail Canada Police).

In line with the defined 2023-2025 work programme, the group started tackling the complex topic of “Feeling of security” on railway premises – a subject to be explored over several meetings. The initial session focused on the state-of-the-art on this topic, gathering needs, identifying gaps and priority areas, and discussing a draft questionnaire which will be the basis for a future survey study and deliverable “Best Practices to Increase the Feeling of Security”.

Given the large scope and multifactorial nature of this topic, the HFWG decided to broaden the discussions beyond the core security group and foster synergies with other UIC working groups such as the Station Managers Global Group (SMGG), with UIC strategic partners like UITP, and with recognised researchers in the field of criminology, psychology and urbanism.

Over 30 experts representing 10 countries from several continents attended the meeting. The participants included UIC members (Security and Passengers), transport authorities, research representatives (International Centre for the Prevention of Crime – ICPC), as well as experts working to improve security of public spaces, including the European Forum for Urban Security (Efus).

First, a set of presentations allowed collecting various experiences on and approaches to the feeling of security. These included a literature review and state-of-the-art on the topic (Paula Fernández Díaz, UIC Security Department), the Station Managers’ perspective (Paul Van Doninck and Michael Englund, Jernhusen AB, Sweden), the viewpoint of railway operators (Jean-Ernest Celestin, VIA RAIL Canada), and a research project example (Ann Champoux, ICPC-CIPC, Canada).

Then, a workshop was organised to help define priority areas and the specific scope of the guidance document to be elaborated by the group. For this purpose, Grigore Havârneanu (UIC Security Department) animated two interactive sessions which helped participants identify needs and requirements and co-create bottom-up inputs.

The meeting concluded with a review of a draft survey proposal by the group. Data collection through this survey will be the next step in the process, to be carried out before the next HFWG meeting.