Jogging female police to catch hecklers who harass women runners

RUNNING club members are being offered training on how to act if they see female runners being harassed.

The initiative was launched in an attempt to tackle street harassment of joggers and runners.

It will involve undercover female police jogging in areas deemed hotspots for harassment in the hope of catching offenders in the act.

The Safer Bradford partnership is also offering free training on how to act if they see abusive or offensive behaviour towards women.

It will “enable anyone witnessing an incident to shift from passive to active by equipping them to step in.”

The partnership says: “The training empowers people to safely intervene, either at the time of the incident or after, and to challenge harmful attitudes, language or behaviour. ”

A public-space protection order covering the whole Bradford district prohibits “shouting or swearing at, or abusing, threatening or otherwise intimidating (including by the use of sexual language or making sexual suggestions) to another person from a vehicle.”

Breaches of the order can be reported by emailing safer.communities@bradford.gov.uk. Coun Abdul Jabar, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: “Women should be able to go running or jogging without fear or intimidation.

"We want them to feel empowered to report any incidents and this training provides proactive ways for a witness to step in and support someone.”

Inspector Nick Haigh, of Bradford Police, said: “We are pleased to be able to work with the local runners within the community to provide this training as part of the education of the new initiative.

“It’s important that people have the opportunity to increase their awareness and skills to be able to intervene if safe and appropriate to do so and understand what it means to be an active bystander.

“This initiative is centered around women feeling safe to go out running or jogging in Bradford and we need support from the communities to achieve this.”

Active Bystander training sessions are around two hours long and limited to 25 people. The next session takes place from 6-8pm on Friday March 22 at Shipley Library.

Places can be booked via Eventbrite.