Latest news with #policesting
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
Surrey police pose as joggers to catch men harassing women out exercising
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 did not report harassment to the police. He said catcalling was 'far too common', with off-duty female officers and staff members experiencing this behaviour. Although it is not a specific criminal offence, catcalling is known to sometimes escalate to more serious sexual offending. The month-long trial, which was first reported by LBC, involved plainclothes officers volunteering to jog in sports gear through areas identified as harassment hotspots, with nearby specialist units ready to intervene if they faced abuse. Uniformed officers are also working with community groups to share insight into the force's work to tackle violence against women and girls. Vale told LBC that the aim was to deter offenders. '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. '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,' he a statement, he added: 'To date, we have made a number of interventions following reports of harassment of our plainclothes runners. In these cases, it was deemed appropriate to provide education around antisocial 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.' PC Abby Hayward, who went undercover, said her experience reflected a daily reality for women. 'This behaviour is either a precursor to something more serious, or it's ignorance and it's fixable. That's where our interventions come in: to stop potential repeat offenders or help people understand that what they're doing isn't OK,' she said. Surrey police said they had developed the pilot out of work installing plainclothes police officers in bars, clubs and town centres at night to spot predatory behaviour and combat harassment. Other forces have considered unconventional methods to reduce catcalling. The Metropolitan police offered a buddy system in which officers joined groups from a women's running club in London in response to concerns about the harassment of members. A study last year by the University of Manchester found that more than two-thirds of women surveyed in north-west England had experienced harassment while running, including threats, verbal abuse and having objects thrown at them. Women told the researchers that they no longer report abuse to the police as it had become an 'everyday occurrence'. A separate study last year by Sport England suggested almost three-quarters of women changed their exercise routine during the winter months.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Dozens of supercars worth more than £7m seized by cops in sting after one owner had ‘only been in UK for 2 hours'
DOZENS of supercars worth around £7 million were seized by police in a major sting operation this weekend. More than 70 luxury motors were nabbed in the crackdown - including one from an owner who had been in the UK for just two hours. 6 6 6 The collaborative operation saw forces from the Metropolitan Police join with those from the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) to respond to the rise in anti-social and dangerous driving in London. A flurry of expensive cars were seized across Hyde Park, Kensington, and Chelsea in the capital, including from luxury brands Ferrari, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz. Two identical purple Lamborghinis - which were uninsured and had been flown into Britain for their owner's summer trip - were also impounded. One of the two drivers had been in the UK for just two hours, and behind the wheel for just 15 minutes, before being caught. The MIB explained that several of the seized vehicles had been brought into Britain from abroad. Many of these vehicles' drivers were relying on motor insurance from their home countries, failing to verify if those police provided valid coverage in the UK. In total, the operation led to the impounding of 72 motors, many of which were uninsured or inadequately covered. Officers also detected a range of other criminal activity in their investigation. This included individuals wanted for actual bodily harm and criminal damage, for drug offences, for stolen vehicles, for immigration offences and for fraudulent insurance policies, known as " ghost broking". Cops also issued countless tickets for a range of other offences, including driving without a valid licence, using a mobile phone while driving, and failing to have a valid MOT. 6 6 6 Tickets were also doled out to those who had illegally tinted windows, who were not wearing a seatbelt, and those who were operating vehicles in a dangerous condition. Officers also identified individuals who had made often-innocent mistakes, such as updating DVLA about the use of a personalised number plate but failing to notify their insurance provider. The operation provided an opportunity for the motorists to rectify their errors whilst demonstrating just how vigilant the police are to these issues. Seventy-five officers from the Met's Special Constabulary and Vehicle Enforcement Team took part, using several methods to identify uninsured drivers. Special Chief Officer James Deller from the Metropolitan Police, who attended the operation, said: "The Met is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour. "This operation was set up to respond to resident, business and visitors' concerns about high-value vehicles causing a nuisance in known hotspot areas in central and west London. "Already the Met has reduced neighbourhood crime by 19 per cent compared to the same time last year and we're addressing anti-social behaviour caused by uninsured drivers. "This has been a great opportunity to work with the Motor Insurers' Bureau and for officers to speak with members of the public about the work we do, educate drivers and enforce the law. "We've had some real success - thank you to Special Constable colleagues who volunteer their time to help drive down crime across London." Martin Saunders, Head of Uninsured Driving Prevention at MIB, reinforced the dual goals of enforcement and awareness: "We urge all motorists to check their insurance policy is in place, is appropriate for their needs and to reach out to their insurer if they are unsure on any part of their policy. "While many offenders knowingly violated the law, others fell victim to simple mistakes such as bounced payments, failed renewals or incorrect details. "With growing concern over seasonal hotspots and tourist-linked offences, the Met and MIB plan to continue enforcement and education efforts throughout the year. "We don't want any driver to become uninsured in the first place.
