PC catches 'icky' catcallers on undercover jogs
Undercover Police Tactic Targets Catcallers
A female police officer who volunteered for an undercover run to apprehend catcallers has stated that their behaviour "makes me feel really icky."
PC Abby Hayward, a Surrey Police officer, was harassed twice during a 5km (3-mile) undercover run. As part of the 'Jog On' campaign, female police officers serve in targeted areas in plain clothes, with uniformed officers on hand nearby to deal with perpetrators who shout sexually suggestive words.
"I'm on my own, I don't have the back-up. It just ruins my whole run," she said. "As a young female, going out, mainly on a jog, it's the staring, not the leaning out of the window." Other officers involved in the scheme said, "It's a problem that affects them outside of work."
The initiative also came after a Surrey County Council poll revealed that although 94% of female residents had experienced a form of harassment, nearly half had never reported it.
'Makes me feel horrible'
The BBC spent time with Surrey Police during the 'Jog On' campaign in July, and within 20 minutes, the runners had already been harassed. PC Hayward said that after being harassed and yelled at by a lorry driver within about 18 minutes, and stopping to talk to someone, the officers were then threatened again just 15 seconds after restarting their run.
She said, "It's not funny. Other than that, it just makes me feel ill. It shows how prevalent it is and how valuable this service is."
The two individuals who abused the runners were given a stern talking-to about street-based harassment and moved on. A Surrey Police spokesperson said that no arrests had been made as a result of the initiative, but that drivers had been challenged about their conduct.
'Jog On' is part of a broader effort to combat violence against women and girls in public spaces, and the same tactics are used to combat predatory behaviour in bars, clubs, and town centres.
Surrey Police Chief Jon Vale said, "It's a big data gap at the moment. We know that this is a problem for us here, after talking to employees. We know that it's a significant under-reported problem nationally. I'm getting a much better idea of this crime type as we go forward. It's about engaging with the public and asking them to share their worries with us, whether it be on our website or via reporting services such as Street Safe."
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Please call us on 08081 002250 to give us your story ideas.
