Surrey Police to use undercover officers to tackle harassment of female runners
“The next time you see a female jogger, just think, they could be a police officer with colleagues nearby ready to stop you. Your behaviour is not welcome in Surrey.”
Last updated 15th Jul 2025
Surrey Police has launched a campaign to tackle street-based harassment against female runners. The Jog On campaign will see female officers, dressed in plain clothes, jog in key locations across Surrey. If they experience harassment, including catcalling or sexually suggestive comments, support crews will be on hand nearby to assist the running police officers and deal with perpetrators.
The tactics mirror those already being used by plain-clothes officers looking to identify predatory behaviour in bars and town centres.
The initiative was first trialled in Reigate and Banstead and is now being rolled out to other areas.
Reigate and Banstead Commander, Inspector Jon Vale, said: “We know that this kind of harassment is significantly under reported thanks to a study carried out by Surrey County Council this year, which revealed that of 450 female residents surveyed, 49% never reported.
“To date, we have made a number of interventions following reports of harassment of our plain clothes runners. In these cases, it was deemed appropriate to provide education around anti-social behaviour.
“For repeat offenders or where the behaviour is more serious, we will robustly pursue all criminal justice outcomes. We recognise this is a significant worry for women and girls, and we’ll continue to patrol running routes throughout Redhill.”
Uniformed officers have also been engaging with local communities, including running clubs and women’s walking groups such as Wherever, Whenever Walks, to discuss street harassment and raise awareness of the campaign.
Olivia Derrick, who founded the Redhill-based walking group, said: “When I moved to Redhill and set up the group I didn’t think much about it, until the Borough Commander, Jon Vale reached out.
“Several officers have attended the walks and have given us insight into what measures Surrey Police is taking to enable women and girls to feel safer in public places. I was assaulted at a young age, so women’s safety is something that I’m very passionate about and it’s great to see that Surrey Police are taking it so seriously.”
The initiative has now launched in North Surrey, with its first operation in Egham.
Inspector Vale added: “This type of harassment isn’t just being experienced by communities in Reigate and Banstead, but communities across the whole of Surrey, and it’s unacceptable.
“We have female officers and staff members who have been the subject to such behaviour when off duty. The message I would like to impart to perpetrators is this; your actions will not be tolerated. Please reflect and ask yourself ‘is this how you would treat or want your partner, mother, sister to be treated’?