A new reporting tool to call out unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport is today expanding to trams and buses.
The Victoria Police service – called STOPIT – launched on trains state-wide last month.
More than 200 notifications have since been received through the text-based service, the first of its kind anywhere in Australia.
Women and girls made up more than half of people using STOPIT.
Victoria Police analysis shows almost 40 percent of all notifications related to threatening and offensive behaviour such as verbal abuse, harassment and racism.
Almost one in four notifications related to unwanted sexual behaviour.
Such behaviour can include catcalling, sexual gestures, non-consensual touching and flashing.
A dedicated team of transit police assesses all notifications received.
Already a number of notifications received have been escalated to the Transit Crime Investigation Unit with detectives now investigating.
Information received has also allowed police to start examining what is occurring across the rail network, be it a particular train line or time of day.
The expansion of STOPIT to trams and buses – including those in regional areas – is expected to help police paint an even better picture of what is occurring across the public transport system.
More than 200 million trips are completed on Melbourne’s tram network each year while annually there is more than 135 million passengers on buses.
STOPIT material is being placed on buses and trams, inside carriages and at tram shelters. Protective services officers will also be handing out STOPIT cards at customer service areas across the network.
To use STOPIT commuters simply text ‘STOPIT’ to 0499 455 455.
The service is not monitored live and should not be used if an urgent response is required.
It is available in 13 languages.
For further information go to https://www.police.vic.gov.au/stopitExternal Link.
Quotes attributable to Transit Safety Division Acting Superintendent Adam Tanner:
“Without STOPIT these important pieces of information may have never come to our attention.
“With the service now expanding to trams and buses we hope even more commuters have the confidence to call out unwanted sexual behaviour for what it is.
“That’s exactly why we created the service – to make it easy and convenient to notify police about what’s occurring.
“It doesn’t matter how small or trivial you think it might be. Every bit of information helps us piece together a larger puzzle to keep commuters safe.”
