Plain-clothed officers to help target and prevent sexual offences
Police are set to be trialling a new way of targeting and preventing sexual offences on nights out
Last updated 24th Apr 2024
It's hoped deploying plain clothed officers in busy night time areas will help to target and prevent sexual offences.
Avon and Somerset Police say more than 3,500 reports of sexual offences were made last year - with the vast majority by women and girls.
Over the coming months, they say they will be trialling a new proactive policing initiative to target and prevent sexual offences from taking place on a night out.
A similar operation, called 'Project Vigilant' by Thames Valley Police in 2019 saw a drop in reports of 30 per cent in Oxford.
In stats revealed by Avon and Somerset Police, officers say they received 3,539 reports of sexual offences across Avon and Somerset, 84% of which were reported by women and girls.
As part of the proactive operation, uniformed officers will intervene and check everybody is safe if they spot those displaying signs of predatory behaviour such as loitering, harassment and following lone women.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Marsh said: “This operation will allow officers to identify possible predatory behaviour which could indicate someone looking to commit a sexual offence. Our officers have received specialist training to identify patterns of behaviour which may pose a risk to women, girls, or vulnerable people, allowing us to step in before any offences have occurred.
“Our intention is not to disrupt anyone’s night out or stop people from having fun, We hope that having this presence around our pubs, clubs, bars and busy street areas will mean women can feel safer on a night out.”
Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault, recently or in the past can report it online or by calling 101.
Always call 999 in an emergency or if a sexual assault has just occurred.
If you feel uncomfortable on a night out, you can also ‘Ask for Angela’ at participating venues where staff will be trained to offer you support.
You can also use the online ‘Street Safe’ tool to report areas anonymously on a map where you don’t feel safe, be it from poorly lit walkways to experiencing instances of public harassment. Find out more on the police website.