Headline Roundup • August 14th, 2025
British Female Cops Go Undercover as Joggers, Arrest Catcallers
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Undercover female cops in the United Kingdom went undercover posed as joggers in a bid to crack down on street harassment and catcalling and made several arrests.
The Details: Police in Surrey, England sent female officers dressed as joggers to run in "key locations" in the county as part of an effort to deal with harassment. The Surrey County Council carried out an assessment this year that showed 49% of the women who were harassed never filed a report. The month-long trial has led to 18 arrests for harassment, sexual assault, and theft.
Key Quote: Reigate and Banstead Commander Inspector Jon Vale said, “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 Context: The task force has been criticized by Free Speech Union, a civil liberties group, which said they should focus on "enforcing the law" and accused the force of “bizarre social-psychology experiments." It also called on police to "stop hunting pre-crimes." Vale said the problem was “far too common” and the aim was to deter offenders.
How the Media Covered It: Sources across the political spectrum noted that harassment of female joggers was too "common" in Surrey, and that many women aren't always reporting the occurences. In headlines, The New York Post (Lean Right) framed the operation as trying to provoke catcalling from men whereas The Guardian (Left) wrote it was an effort to "catch" men who have been doing it.
Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Suggest an improvement to this summary.
Featured Coverage of this Story
The Times
A police force has been criticised after sending out undercover officers posing as joggers to catch catcallers.
Female officers from Surrey police went running during rush hour to expose the frequency that women are harassed while exercising in public.
Inspector Jon Vale, Surrey’s violence against women and girls safer spaces lead, said that a survey found almost half of female runners in one area the county did not report such harassment to the police.
He said that off-duty female officers and staff members had been subject to such behaviour and,...
Eighteen people have been arrested after a police force sent out female undercover officers posing as joggers to catch men harassing women while they are out exercising.
A pilot operation from Surrey police deployed female officers in running gear during rush hour to expose how often women are harassed. The pilot has resulted in 18 arrests for offences such as harassment, sexual assault and theft.
Insp Jon Vale, Surrey’s violence against women and girls safer spaces lead, said a survey found almost half of female runners in one area of the county...
From catcalls to the doghouse.
Female cops in England went undercover as joggers, wearing tight-fitting clothes in a bid to elicit catcalls — and then arrested some of the men who hit on them, according to a report.
