VICTORIA Police have made their first arrest using information gathered from the recently introduced STOPIT service, after an incident was reported on a train from Ballarat on Friday.

A 20-year-old man was arrested on Friday morning after a 22-year-old woman used STOPIT to report him for performing an explicit sexual act next to her while she was travelling on a city-bound train from Ballarat in July.

It was reported a 16-year-old girl also observed similar behaviour on the same day while on a Ballarat-bound train.

Police allege the arrested man is linked to a series of indecent acts spanning five months.

The arrested man was charged with five counts of sexual activity directed at a person and appeared in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

Police encourage anyone who witnesses unwanted sexual behaviour or other acts that make people feel uncomfortable or unsafe on public transport, to use the STOPIT service.

Commuters can text ‘STOPIT’ to 0499 455 455 and receive a link to a digital form where they can provide details of their experience, which will then be sent to a dedicated team of transit police to review and follow-up.

The tool was launched on trains in July and has since expanded to include trams and buses.

Transit Crime Investigation Unit detective senior sergeant, Rob Milliken, said it was important that members of the community continue to use the service to report inappropriate behaviours so police can act accordingly.

“STOPIT is about calling out unwanted sexual behaviour for what it is - completely unacceptable,” he said.

“Every piece of information helps us make the public transport network safer.

“If you see something, please say something.”

For urgent matters where police attendance is required, people should call triple zero.

For further information, go to police.vic.gov.au/stopit