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STOPIT

STOPIT is a new Victoria Police text notification service enabling commuters, including school students, to report inappropriate behaviour on the public transport network. Find out more about the service at sexual and anti-social behaviour on public transport, on the Victoria Police website.

How STOPIT works

The STOPIT service allows commuters to use their mobile phone to promptly, easily and discreetly report inappropriate behaviour. To use the service, commuters text ‘STOPIT’ to 0499 455 455. This triggers an automated response that includes a link to where the commuter can provide more details about what’s just happened.

When people report these types of behaviours, police can investigate and identify offenders to improve safety on public transport for everyone. STOPIT is for reporting non-urgent incidents on public transport. The service isn’t monitored live. Passengers should always phone 000 in an emergency. This service does not remove or replace other reporting channels available to students, such as speaking with bus or tram drivers, teachers or police.

Advice for students travelling without a mobile phone

Victoria Police say students travelling without a mobile phone who want to report non-urgent incidents on public transport can:

• speak directly with a protective services officer (PSO) if transitioning through a train station. PSOs are located at metropolitan train stations between 6 pm and the last train each day and can help with the notification process
• alternatively, make a notification at a later time, such as through a family member’s mobile phone, as the STOPIT service is for non-urgent notifications.​​​​​​​

Schools using the School Bus Program and privately operated school bus services

Public transport includes trains and trams, and some buses.If using a myki or paper-based public transport ticket, the service is a public transport service and the STOPIT number can be used to report incidents. If no myki or paper-based public transport ticket is required for bus travel, it is unlikely the service is considered public transport. It is possible that the service is either a School Bus Program service, or a privately operated school bus service. In these cases, students should report matters to the driver (en route) and to relevant school staff and police as needed.

Find out more

For more information, refer to sexual and anti-social behaviour on public transport on the Victoria Police website.

Be SunSmart

Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UV) during childhood and adolescence is a significant risk factor for skin cancer. The school community it encouarged to apply sunscreen, wear a hat and stay out of the sun.