I was flashed by a man in fancy dress & cowered as another masturbated on my train – catcalling pervs are everywhere
SICK MINDS I was flashed by a man in fancy dress & cowered as another masturbated on my train – catcalling pervs are everywhere
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SAT in my university house living room, with various mates, there was a bang on the window.
Then another and another.
5
Anna Roberts has been subject to harassment with TWO horrifying incidents
Credit: Supplied
5
Surrey Police have launched a campaign for catcallers to be caught
Credit: Getty
It was 2003, I was 19 and studying English at the University of Leeds.
Suddenly a man wearing a wig and dressed as a schoolgirl - and he was clearly a man, perhaps in his 40s - emerged from the shadows, lifted up his skirt and started masturbating.
It was more than two decades ago and the memory of the incident has been partially eroded by time. But from what I recall he continued, smirking under his moustache, until he was erect.
Then, while we all watched wide-eyed, he ejaculated.
Most read in Fabulous
CHILLING PLOT Netflix-inspired stalker locked me up in bunker & raped me…sick deal saved me
5
Anna during her uni years at Leeds
Credit: Supplied
He laughed as his semen smeared the glass before turning his back and sauntering off.
At the time I giggled, not really seeing the harm.
I am not even certain we called the police and - because there were a few of us - didn't feel unsafe.
Now, two decades on, I feel horrified by his behaviour and saddened that these sort of incidents still occur.
This month two female officers from Surrey Police hit the streets in sportswear to show how often women get harassed while running - and they were "catcalled within minutes".
A spokesperson for the force said: "These behaviours may not be criminal offences in themselves, but they need to be addressed."
Inspector John Vale added: "One of our officers was honked at within ten minutes - then another vehicle slowed down, beeping and making gestures just 30 seconds later - that's how frequent it is.
"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."
5
Undercover police officers have started a new campaign to crack down on men catcalling female runners in Surrey– by posing as joggers themselves
Credit: LBC
5
PC Abby Hayward is one of the police officers who posed as a jogger in a bit to catch catcallers out
Credit: LBC
Surrey Police's findings follow on from a 2021 survey by UN Women UK, the UK arm of the UN dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
These revealed 97% of UK women aged 18-24 have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces. The figure was later amended to 86%.
And although I know not all men indulge in this sort of behaviour, I can well believe it.
Aged 23, I was on a train coming out of Birmingham New Street to one of its smaller stations when a man in full cycling gear got on.
Looking at me directly in the eye he put his hands straight down his pants, and rubbed and rubbed until he was hard.
He was mid-50s and looked like a professional. He had a wedding ring on.
I was completely terrified and ran through the train until I reached a much more crowded carriage.
In hindsight I wonder what his wife might think if she knew. Disgust? Embarrassment?
Many, many women I know have experienced similar incidents - some more serious, some less.
It's not my place to tell their stories.
Sexual abuse in numbers
669,000 adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales every year 1 in 5 women (8m) in the UK have been sexually abused
1 in 6 men (5m) in the UK have been sexually abused
1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused
Sexual abuse has been attributed to: 15% of all suicides in the UK
11% of all common mental health disorders in the UK
7% of alcohol dependence disorders
10% of drug dependence disorders
15% of eating disorders
17% of post-traumatic stress disorders
(Source: Safeline)
It would be reductive to claim all men were predators. This is plainly not true.
I know many good men who would not dream of assaulting anyone and would squirm at the thought of catcalling a woman.
But it's undeniable, based on stats, Surrey Police's video evidence, UN data, anecdotal evidence and my own experience, that some men still indulge in this behaviour - and not just in Surrey!
A quarter of a century after a teen sat in her room watching a grown man with a moustache in a wig and skirt get himself off, it's time to realise women are real people who deserve respect.
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Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Is prowling for catcallers really the best use of police time?' Fury as undercover cops pose as joggers to catch wolf-whistlers
Police chiefs have sparked fury after undercover officers posed as joggers to catch men catcalling women - with campaigners branding it a 'nightmarish' clampdown on free speech. Activists have argued police should be using their resources to tackle criminal activity such as knife crime and theft - not 'prowling the streets in search of lawful but disapproved remarks'. It comes after Surrey Police sent two officers out running at rush hour to show the scale of harassment that women are facing. A spokesman for the force said of the patrols: 'These behaviours may not be criminal offences in themselves, but they need to be addressed.' Condemning the crackdown, The Free Speech Union said: 'Britain is in the grip of a surge in serious crime. In the year to March 2025, shoplifting rose 20 per cent, theft from the person climbed 15 per cent , and robberies topped 78,000. 'And Surrey Police's answer? "Jog On": a county-wide sting in which female officers, dressed as joggers, run through public spaces trailed by squad cars, ready to swoop on anyone who cat-calls, wolf-whistles or makes sexually suggestive comments. 'Perhaps Surrey Police should take their own advice and "just think" about whether prowling the streets in search of lawful but disapproved remarks is really the best use of police time in a county, and a country, grappling with so many actual crimes.' The union compared the campaign to Philip K. Dick's 1956 novella The Minority Report, which imagined a 'pre-crime' police unit hunting those who it believed would commit a crime. 'Across the country, Dick's nightmarish logic is fast becoming a technocratic rationale driving the authorities to clamp down on freedom of expression,' the union said. The Free Speech Union condemned Surrey Police's crackdown on catcalling The Boxing Saves Lives organisation also hit back at the campaign, suggesting police have better things to do Surrey Police sent the joggers out under the belief that acts such as catcalling could 'lead on to other behaviours'. But the Boxing Saves Lives organisation hit back at the claims, arguing that 'performative boll**** like this makes [women] think [police] have their finger on the pulse'. 'Have they got nothing better to do than to go finding new and inventive ways to be oppressed?', they wrote. 'This is not to say catcalling men aren't the absolute worst toss*** ever, but you'd be pretty pissed off if they told you they didn't have resources to attend a burglary, but had coppers free to jog round the streets to fight crimes they've prioritised to show how righteous they are. 'Women and girls will be failed all the time by the police, but performative boll**** like this makes them think they have their finger on the pulse.' Free speech activists argued police should instead be focusing on enforcing existing laws. A Surrey Police spokesperson said: 'Our priority is not only to tackle and solve crime but also to prevent it from happening in the first place.' Reporters from the news outlet LBC joined officers on patrol during the evening rush hour in Reigate, Surrey. During the operation, plain clothes police officers, who were dressed in athletic jogging gear, headed to areas identified as 'harassment hotspots'. Meanwhile, specialist units waited nearby to intervene at the first sign of abuse. According to LBC, the two female undercover cops were 'targeted within minutes' by a man in a large truck who 'honked at them and made gestures out the window'. Inspector John Vale said: 'One of our officers was honked at within ten minutes — then another vehicle slowed down, beeping and making gestures just 30 seconds later - that's how frequent it is. '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.' PC Abby Hayward, one of the police officers who posed as a jogger, said that catcalling is something many women are subjected to every day. She said that the behaviour was 'so common' and that it needed to be addressed. Surrey Police said that since they launched the 'Jog On' campaign four weeks ago, 18 arrests have been made for various offences including sexual assault and theft. Inspector Vale added: '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 per cent 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.' He continued: '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?' '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.'
Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Wales Online
Seagull dies after being 'kicked to death for pinching fish' outside chippy
Seagull dies after being 'kicked to death for pinching fish' outside chippy The RSPCA is investigating after a seagull was kicked to death in Barmouth after taking fish off a plate It happened on Marine Parade in Barmouth (Image: Getty) A seagull was kicked to death after "taking fish off a plate" outside a chippy in Gwynedd. RSPCA Cymru said they were investigating after the gull died on Marine Parade in Barmouth on Monday, August 4. The charity said at around 1pm the gull was kicked after "he had taken fish off a plate and dropped it on the floor". After being kicked, the gull struck a parked car, before dying. The RSPCA are appealing for information to help identify the man accused of abusing the bird. RSPCA animal rescue officer Julia Dalgleish said she had been making enquiries in the local area after the incident was reported to the charity. She said: "This upsetting incident took place in a public place and would have been a very distressing incident to witness. "We are looking for anyone with first-hand information, which could help our enquiries, to give us a call on our appeals line on 0300 123 8018, and quote 01596699. "We'd also like to thank those who showed kindness towards this gull as we understand the bird's body was removed away from onlookers. "Sadly, many people have an unfavourable opinion of gulls - but these are intelligent animals who form strong social bonds with each other, and deserve to be treated with respect. "We would also like to remind people that gulls and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. "It is illegal to do anything that causes suffering to gulls, or that damages or destroys active nests." The RSPCA is also seeking assistance in locating a man who may be able to provide information that could aid their investigation. The individual is described as being approximately five foot, 10 inches tall with curly hair, of medium build and was last seen wearing a black jacket. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the appeal line on 0300 123 8018. Article continues below The RSPCA is also investigating after dozens of dead pigeons were found dumped and rotting in a Welsh town. A bin bag full of around 30 of the birds was found on Monday, July 14, in Bridge Street, Newbridge.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I was flashed by a man in fancy dress & cowered as another masturbated on my train – catcalling pervs are everywhere
Surrey Police's latest campaign hits very close to home for Fabulous' Associate Editor, Anna Roberts SICK MINDS I was flashed by a man in fancy dress & cowered as another masturbated on my train – catcalling pervs are everywhere Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SAT in my university house living room, with various mates, there was a bang on the window. Then another and another. 5 Anna Roberts has been subject to harassment with TWO horrifying incidents Credit: Supplied 5 Surrey Police have launched a campaign for catcallers to be caught Credit: Getty It was 2003, I was 19 and studying English at the University of Leeds. Suddenly a man wearing a wig and dressed as a schoolgirl - and he was clearly a man, perhaps in his 40s - emerged from the shadows, lifted up his skirt and started masturbating. It was more than two decades ago and the memory of the incident has been partially eroded by time. But from what I recall he continued, smirking under his moustache, until he was erect. Then, while we all watched wide-eyed, he ejaculated. Most read in Fabulous CHILLING PLOT Netflix-inspired stalker locked me up in bunker & raped me…sick deal saved me 5 Anna during her uni years at Leeds Credit: Supplied He laughed as his semen smeared the glass before turning his back and sauntering off. At the time I giggled, not really seeing the harm. I am not even certain we called the police and - because there were a few of us - didn't feel unsafe. Now, two decades on, I feel horrified by his behaviour and saddened that these sort of incidents still occur. This month two female officers from Surrey Police hit the streets in sportswear to show how often women get harassed while running - and they were "catcalled within minutes". A spokesperson for the force said: "These behaviours may not be criminal offences in themselves, but they need to be addressed." Inspector John Vale added: "One of our officers was honked at within ten minutes - then another vehicle slowed down, beeping and making gestures just 30 seconds later - that's how frequent it is. "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." 5 Undercover police officers have started a new campaign to crack down on men catcalling female runners in Surrey– by posing as joggers themselves Credit: LBC 5 PC Abby Hayward is one of the police officers who posed as a jogger in a bit to catch catcallers out Credit: LBC Surrey Police's findings follow on from a 2021 survey by UN Women UK, the UK arm of the UN dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. These revealed 97% of UK women aged 18-24 have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces. The figure was later amended to 86%. And although I know not all men indulge in this sort of behaviour, I can well believe it. Aged 23, I was on a train coming out of Birmingham New Street to one of its smaller stations when a man in full cycling gear got on. Looking at me directly in the eye he put his hands straight down his pants, and rubbed and rubbed until he was hard. He was mid-50s and looked like a professional. He had a wedding ring on. I was completely terrified and ran through the train until I reached a much more crowded carriage. In hindsight I wonder what his wife might think if she knew. Disgust? Embarrassment? Many, many women I know have experienced similar incidents - some more serious, some less. It's not my place to tell their stories. Sexual abuse in numbers 669,000 adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales every year 1 in 5 women (8m) in the UK have been sexually abused 1 in 6 men (5m) in the UK have been sexually abused 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused Sexual abuse has been attributed to: 15% of all suicides in the UK 11% of all common mental health disorders in the UK 7% of alcohol dependence disorders 10% of drug dependence disorders 15% of eating disorders 17% of post-traumatic stress disorders (Source: Safeline) It would be reductive to claim all men were predators. This is plainly not true. I know many good men who would not dream of assaulting anyone and would squirm at the thought of catcalling a woman. But it's undeniable, based on stats, Surrey Police's video evidence, UN data, anecdotal evidence and my own experience, that some men still indulge in this behaviour - and not just in Surrey! A quarter of a century after a teen sat in her room watching a grown man with a moustache in a wig and skirt get himself off, it's time to realise women are real people who deserve respect.
