SURREY, England — Surrey police officers took to the streets in athletic gear — not for fitness, but for enforcement.
In a month-long undercover operation, Surrey Police deployed plainclothes officers posing as joggers through areas identified as harassment hotspots. The goal: catch individuals catcalling or targeting women with unwanted comments, gestures and behavior, according to The Telegraph.
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The operation led to 18 arrests for offenses including harassment, sexual assault and theft. Nearby specialist units stood ready to intervene as soon as any threatening or inappropriate behavior was observed.
Surrey Police Inspector Jon Vale said the tactics were designed to expose the frequency and impact of harassment many women experience while running or walking in public.
“One of our officers was honked at within 10 minutes — then another vehicle slowed down, beeping and making gestures just 30 seconds later,” Vale told LBC. “Someone staring, shouting, slowing down — even if it’s not always criminal, it has a huge impact on people’s everyday lives. It stops women from doing something as simple as going for a run.”
Surrey Police framed the operation as part of a broader public safety strategy focused on preventing violence against women and girls. Though many of the behaviors encountered don’t meet criminal thresholds, police said it’s about early intervention and reducing risk.
“We have to ask: Is this person going to escalate? Are they a sexual offender? We want to manage that risk early,” Vale added.
Some criticism, but officers stand by proactive approach
Not everyone supported the operation. The Free Speech Union, a U.K.-based organization, criticized it as a “bizarre social-psychology experiment,” urging law enforcement to concentrate on enforcing current laws instead, according to The Telegraph.
But officers involved in the operation say the approach is already making a difference.
PC Abby Hayward, who went undercover during the effort, said the behavior she encountered mirrored what many women face daily in the U.K.
“We get catcalled. We get honked at. People slow down just to stare — or lean out the window to shout something,” she said. “It’s so common, but it’s harassment — and it needs to be recognized as that.” Hayward added that while some interactions were clearly threatening, others stemmed from ignorance — and the operation allowed officers to educate as well as intervene.
“This behavior is either a precursor to something more serious — or it’s fixable through awareness,” she said. “The rise in violence against women and girls is real. We’re talking about women being spat at, stalked, harassed while they’re just out on a run — it’s just horrendous.”
Police officials have not said whether the undercover jogger operation will expand, but initial results suggest it may serve as a model for similar proactive efforts across the U.K.
Has your agency ever used undercover tactics for quality-of-life enforcement (like street harassment)? If so, what were the results?
