Fight against sex offences, crime on public transport

Years of research has gone into a new service that will allow commuters to report untoward behaviour and sexual offences direct to police.

Victoria Police is launching an Australian-first reporting service in a bid to stop sexual offending and unwanted behaviour on public transport.

From Friday, July 8, STOPIT will allow victims and bystanders to discreetly text the force to report untoward and anti-social behaviour on Metro and V/line train networks.

Patrons can text ‘STOPIT’ to 0499 455 455 to receive a link where they can share incident details including time, date and location on a digital form.

The intel will be examined by a dedicated triage team of transit police before being passed on to detectives, who will identify and hold perpetrators to account.

The service will encourage reporting across six categories including unwanted sexual behaviour, suspicious behaviour, threatening and offensive behaviour, obscene and racist language, drug and alcohol-related incidents and graffiti and property damage.

Superintendent Alison Boyes said the majority of unwanted sexual behaviour currently goes unreported.

STOPIT aims to make it easier for commuters to report untoward and anti-social behaviour on public transport. Picture: David Caird

“We want to give the power back to the people,” Superintendent Boyes told the Herald Sun.

“People just expect this behaviour is going to happen on public transport, it is normalised.

“Public transport users don’t have to endanger themselves, we just need the information. We have a very high rate of identifying offenders for reported incidents so by telling us, we can do something about it.

“It is not only the offenders we are looking for but knowing when and where things are happening so we can put police and PSOs to those locations to deter that behaviour.”

Superintendent Boyes said years of research had gone into creating STOPIT to ensure it was accessible to anyone at anytime, adding the service is available in 13 languages.

“Any situation which makes someone feel unsafe or uncomfortable is not OK,” she said.

“We want to hear about people’s experiences so we can help make the network a safe

place for everyone.

“The more you start talking to people, particularly young women and girls, (you realise) this happens nearly everyday. It impacts on people’s lives but everyone works around it.”

Commuters can make reports in six categories, including unwanted sexual behaviour.

She said current barriers to reporting included safety concerns, people not knowing how to make a complaint as well as general confusion about whether unwelcome behaviour is a criminal offence.

Victoria Police says any behaviour which makes a person feel uncomfortable, frightened or threatened should be reported.

Photos can also be uploaded, if safe to capture.

A similar service operates in the UK and has been credited with empowering victims and bystanders to come forward.

Superintendent Boyes said strangers air-dropping explicit images to unsuspecting passengers was becoming “quite a problem” on Melbourne’s public transport network, noting not all reports to STOPIT need to be about physical behaviour.

Assistant Commissioner Dean McWhirter, of the transit and public safety command, said STOPIT was a “significant initiative” for Victoria Police.

“It is a demonstration of our commitment to ensure unwanted sexual behaviour on

public transport is called out for what it is – and that’s completely unacceptable,” he said.

“STOPIT will give police a better understanding of exactly what is occurring and most

importantly boost our ability to identify perpetrators and hold them to account.”

Anyone requiring an immediate or urgent police response in an emergency is still advised to

phone triple-0, as the service is not monitored live.

STOPIT is currently available on trains and will be extended to trams and buses in late

August.

‘It made me feel powerless’

Safety advocate Ruvimbo Togara knows all too well the impact unwanted sexual harassment can have on personal confidence.

The 25-year-old was harassed by a creepy man at a Melbourne bus station before he followed her as she disembarked.

“I thought it was a simple ‘hello’ but then he then made comments about my body and my skin tone that made me feel uncomfortable,” she said.

“I was trying to mind my own business. To my surprise he got off at the same bus stop.”

Women’s safety advocate Ruvimbo Togara, 25, was harassed by a man at a Melbourne bus station. Picture: David Caird

Ms Togara’s quick wits led her to call a relative who came to pick her up.

“Who would’ve known what would’ve happened if I walked home,” she said.

“After that I didn’t use the bus for quite sometime. It strips you of your confidence, it made me feel powerless and question my worth.”

Plan International Australia chief executive Susanne Legena described STOPIT as an “important new tool” which was a “major breakthrough”.

“Half the population have to take longer routes home, use expensive ride share services or walk fearfully with their keys in their hands so they can get around the city safely,” she said.

“This is not something women should have to put up with.”

The organisation advocates for enhanced safety measures in public to help combat street harrassment, saying women, gender diverse people and people of colour often had to normalise unwanted sexual behaviour.

“It is being leered at, being verbally intimidated, someone standing too close when the carriage is empty, staring at their breasts, touching them on a crowded bus,” Ms Legena said.

“With STOPIT, we hope people feel safer to use public transport and incidents involving this type of behaviour stops all together. We want everyone in the community to be clear about what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable.”