Undercover police joggers are catching catcallers in the UK

What looks like an ordinary jog in the English countryside could be anything but. In Surrey, United Kingdom, women lacing up their sneakers for a morning run might actually be undercover police officers — and they’re not chasing a runner’s high.

Surrey Police launched a monthlong “Jog On” campaign aimed at catching people who harass women on the street. The initiative uses female officers posing as joggers to identify offenders.

Campaign results in 18 arrests

According to police, the crackdown has led to 18 arrests. The BBC joined Surrey Police for a jog in July and reported that within 20 minutes, runners had already experienced some form of harassment.

One undercover officer told The Independent that she hopes people realize the behavior is not acceptable.

“We know that this kind of harassment is significantly underreported thanks to a study carried out by Surrey County Council this year, which revealed that of 450 female residents surveyed, 49% never reported,” said Reigate and Banstead Commander Inspector Jon Vale.

“For repeat offenders or where the behaviour is more serious, we will robustly pursue all criminal justice outcomes,” Vale said. “We recognize this is a significant worry for women and girls, and we’ll continue to patrol running routes throughout Redhill.”

Study shows majority of women experience harassment

A 2024 University of Manchester study asked 498 women who regularly exercise about their experiences. Of the 68% who reported experiencing harassment, only 5% said they had reported the incidents to police.

The Guardian reported that other police forces, including the Metropolitan Police in London, have also introduced safety programs. One example is a “buddy system” that pairs women’s running clubs with officers during workouts.

Vale emphasized the campaign’s message:

“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.”

Street harassment in the US

In the United States, there is no nationwide operation like Surrey’s “Jog On” campaign. However, some cities are making efforts to curb street harassment.

Washington, D.C., passed the Street Harassment Prevention Act in 2018 to focus on public education and awareness instead of criminalization.

Nonprofits like Right To Be train bystanders on safe intervention strategies. The group also offers training on how to respond to harassment, conflict de-escalation and resilience. According to its website, Right To Be has trained more than 250,000 people.