Police are going undercover to nab catcallers who harass female runners in a county outside of London.
In Surrey, female officers in plain clothes and running gear are being deployed in areas of concern to address catcalling and sexually suggestive remarks.
There are support crews nearby ready to help deal with potential perpetrators.
Police will pursue legal action for any repeat offenders or offenders with more serious behaviour.
Surrey Police north division officer Abi Hayward said being catcalled while trying to get her cardio in is an all too familiar experience for her.
“I feel diminished, I just feel uncomfortable,” she said.
“It makes me feel uneasy, and then instantly, it’s just ruined my run. I just don’t want to.”
Hayward volunteered for this program to combat harassment, following a local council survey that revealed nearly half of the participants had experienced catcalling but never reported it.
“The change I’d like to see is for people to recognise that it’s not right,” she said.
“It’s not just a small act. It’s a thing that can make someone feel really quite uncomfortable.”
Launched in Reigate and Banstead in mid-July, the program mirrors tactics used in another initiative where undercover female officers target predatory behavior in bars, clubs, and town centers.
Reigate and Banstead Borough Commander Inspector Jon Vale said the program has already recorded a number of incidents of harassment.
“In these cases, it was deemed appropriate to provide education around anti-social behaviour,” he said.
Vale said he wanted the public to know about their undercover tactics to make perpetrators think twice about their behaviour.
The program has now been rolled out across wider Surrey.
“Harassment of this kind isn’t just affecting Reigate and Banstead but communities throughout Surrey, and it’s unacceptable,” stated Vale.
