Extra safety measures along Woking canal towpath after spate of indecent exposures
Extra CCTV has been installed and plants lining the canal cut back
Last updated 9th May 2022
Extra safety measures have been put in place along the Basingstoke Cannal through Woking ,after a spate of indecent exposures.
There have been a number of reported flashings and suspicious incidents, especially against women and girls, since mid-2019.
Since then, Surrey Police and volunteers have stepped up efforts to tackle the problem along a 13 mile stretch of towpath.
With the help of the Canal Authority and Woking Borough Council, extra CCTV cameras have now been installed.
Vounteers and police officers now have access to electric bikes so they can more effectively patrol the towpath.
Overgrown shrubbery has been cut down and graffiti removed, with the aim of increasing visibility and making the canal a nicer place to visit.
There has also been investment in signage, which will urge people to report suspicious behaviour.
Sergeant Tris Cansell, of Surrey Police, said: “We feel very strongly that no one should ever be made to feel unsafe when they’re out enjoying their local area and we are committed to making this a reality across Woking, and particularly along the Basingstoke Canal.
“We recognised that in order to achieve this, we needed to take a holistic approach to tackle the issues from all sides and I hope that residents, in particular women and girls, will feel reassured by the new measures in place.
“I would also like to thank the Police and Crime Commissioner, Woking Borough Council, the Canal Authority, Woking Football Club and Kiwi and Scot for joining forces with us and helping to carry out this project.
"We are all totally united in our opposition to violence against women and girls, showing that offenders have no place in our community or beyond.”