Speak Out: Turning Lived Experience into Safer Communities
At imabi and imabi Community CIC, we believe safer communities start with listening.
Through Travel Guardian app’s “Your Voice” feature, our Speak Out initiative gives people a safe, accessible way to share their personal experiences of harmful or anti-social behaviour, also anonymously, if they wish to do so.
Why Speak Out Matters
Anti-social behaviour, harassment and disruptive conduct are often under-reported. Many people don’t formally complain — they simply change their routines, avoid certain places, or stay silent.
The Speak Out feature helps bridge that gap by:
Capturing real-world experiences in real time
Identifying behavioural patterns and hotspots
Highlighting emerging trends
Supporting evidence-based decision-making
Informing local authorities and community partners
What the Data Is Telling Us
Recent results from Speak Out respondents reveal something important:
43% reported experiencing a negative or harmful incident on public transport.
81% identified behavioural issues as the most common nature of concern.
These behaviours include:
Unwanted loud noise and disruptive conduct
Verbal abuse
Anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol or drugs
Intimidating behaviour from fellow passengers
When people feel unsafe on buses, trains or in stations, it changes:
How often they travel
What routes they take
Whether they travel alone
Whether they report concerns
Working with Local Authorities: Torbay Council
One of our strongest examples of insight turning into action is our partnership with Torbay Council.
Torbay launched their dedicated area within the Travel Guardian app to keep their community safe, connected and informed. Through this partnership:
Local safety information is accessible in one place
Residents can report concerns directly
Community alerts can be shared quickly
Engagement data supports targeted interventions
By embedding Travel Guardian into their community safety framework, Torbay has strengthened two-way communication between residents and the council.
What Your Voice Actually Helps Us Do
Every response submitted through Speak Out contributes to:
✔ Identifying trends early
✔ Supporting council decision-making
✔ Informing patrol strategies
✔ Strengthening community messaging
✔ Improving public confidence
✔ Highlighting gaps in reporting pathways
When 43% of respondents report negative experiences on public transport, that signals something meaningful.
When 81% identify behavioural concerns as the top issue, that tells us prevention must go beyond enforcement i.e. into awareness, culture and visible reassurance.
How You Can Get Involved
If you’ve experienced:
Anti-social behaviour
Harassment
Public transport disruption
Behaviour that made you feel unsafe
….or you just want to participate and have your say in periodical snapshots and surveys, and/or want to share your feedback…
Download the FREE Travel Guardian app
🗣️ Head to the Your Voice section and share your experience
Help shape safer communities
