Public transport is an easy, affordable, low-emission way to move around the city. It’s also a place where you cross paths with people from all walks of life. Unfortunately, not every interaction is a positive one. An obscene gesture, a sexually explicit comment or intrusive questions can all make a passenger feel watched or unsafe.Through the text-based reporting service STOPIT, Transport Victoria is asking people not to dismiss these moments, but to report them. Since its introduction in 2022 the service has led to more than 75 arrests, directly linked to reports made by members of the public, Victoria Police says.Women are less likely than men to feel safe on public transport. According to 2021-22 figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 23% of women felt unsafe using public transport alone after dark, compared with just 8% of men.What is STOPIT?STOPIT is a non-urgent, text-based notification service run by Victoria Police. It allows people to discreetly report unwanted sexual or antisocial behaviour that they have experienced or seen on trains, trams, buses and at stations or stops. To use it, passengers text “STOPIT” to 0499 455 455 and receive a link to an online form. They can provide details such as what happened, where and when, and upload images or videos if they have them.The service is not monitored live, so in an emergency or if there is immediate danger, people should call triple zero (000).Transport Victoria says unwanted behaviour is not limited to physical contact or confrontation. It can include someone standing too close, catcalling, or watching explicit material on their phone. It can also include antisocial behaviour such as verbal abuse, threatening, harassment, intimidation, vandalism or property damage. Put simply: if it makes someone feel uncomfortable, frightened or threatened, it can be reported through STOPIT.“We know many incidents on public transport go unreported, often because people are focused on their immediate safety or don’t know how to report unwanted behaviours,” says Supt Mark Zervaas, of the Transit Safety Division, Victoria Police.“STOPIT removes those barriers by allowing commuters to discreetly notify police by sending a text message and submitting information about what occurred.”Why reporting unwanted behaviour mattersEvery report gives Victoria Police more information about what’s happening across the public transport network. A single notification can help police identify an offender, connect repeat incidents, locate patterns on particular routes or services, and direct resources where they’re needed.“By reporting through STOPIT, you are helping police take action,” Zervaas says. “We have a strong track record of identifying offenders when incidents are reported, and the information provided also helps us identify trends and direct resources to improve safety across the public transport network.”On a busy network, one report may seem like a small thing. But together, these reports can help police understand where harm is occurring, identify offenders and support safer journeys for the people most likely to be targeted.If you see or experience unwanted sexual or antisocial behaviour while on public transport text “STOPIT” to 0499 455 455. Then complete the report on the link you’ll be sent from Victoria Police. For more information visit transport.vic.gov.au.STOPIT is not monitored live. In an emergency call triple zero (000).