Catcalling is generally considered a form of sexual harassment, and some men in England quickly had the smile wiped off their faces after taking part.
Surrey Police officers went undercover as joggers in an attempt to catch catcallers and show just how common the harassment of female joggers is.
The trial operation, which lasted a month, has led to 18 arrests for offenses such as sexual assault, harassment, and theft, per the Telegraph.
The undercover officers, dressed in athletic gear, were sent out during rush hour to known harassment "hot spots," where they posed as joggers to observe and, when necessary, intervene.
A spokesman for Surrey Police explained that while the actions they encountered may not always be criminal offenses, “these behaviours may not be criminal offences in themselves, but they need to be addressed.”
Inspector Jon Vale, one of the leaders of the operation, described the harassment as shockingly frequent.
“One of our officers was honked at within 10 minutes — then another vehicle slowed down, beeping and making gestures just 30 seconds later — that’s how frequent it is,” Vale told LBC.
He emphasized the far-reaching impact of such behavior, stating: “Someone slowing down, staring, shouting — even if it’s not always criminal, it can have a huge impact on people’s everyday lives and stops women from doing something as simple as going for a run.
"We have to ask: is that person going to escalate? Are they a sexual offender? We want to manage that risk early.”
The operation has already proved to be eye-opening, as officers reported that the harassment they faced mirrored the daily experiences of many women.
PC Abby Hayward, one of the undercover officers involved, shared: “We get catcalled. We get honked at. People slow down just to stare — or lean out the window to shout something. It’s so common, but it’s harassment and it needs to be recognised as that.”
Hayward added that the initiative was effective in both catching offenders and educating others.
“This behaviour is either a precursor to something more serious — or it’s ignorance, and it’s fixable,” she said. “That’s where our interventions come in: to stop potential repeat offenders or help people understand that what they’re doing isn’t OK.”
The rise in violence against women and girls has prompted this response, with Hayward noting that “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.”
However, the operation has drawn criticism.
The Free Speech Union has slammed the tactic as a “bizarre social-psychology experiment,” suggesting that officers should focus on enforcing existing laws rather than using this method to address street harassment.
The Union argued that the resources spent on this operation could be better utilized elsewhere in ensuring that current laws are properly enforced.
Despite the criticism, Surrey Police remain firm in their belief that the operation serves an important purpose in addressing harassment and protecting women in public spaces.
As Vale put it, “The problem is far too common,” and this trial is part of an ongoing effort to reduce harassment and prevent more serious offenses from escalating.