Police go undercover on runs to tackle harassment of women

PC Catrin Hughes is pioneering a groundbreaking initiative aimed at making women feel safer when running outdoors.

A passionate runner herself, Catrin understands firsthand the anxiety and vulnerability that women can experience while out on the roads and trails.

Going above and beyond her ‘traditional duties’, she and her colleagues have joined women runners, addressing any instances of misogyny in the moment and speaking directly with individuals whose behaviour falls short of what is acceptable.

PC Hughes said: “I chose to start Operation Cadence because I recognised that a lot of people – especially women – enjoy running and being active outdoors, but don’t always feel safe doing so alone.

“As a Police Officer and someone who actively runs, I understand how important it is to feel safe when out running and being active. Operation Cadence is about building those relationships, running alongside the community, listening to concerns and promoting simple safety measures.

“I have worked on the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Rhyl since October 2025 and wanted to find a positive way to engage with the community outside of traditional policing settings.

“Rhyl has an active running and fitness community with multiple scenic areas that are used to exercise; I realised running could be a great way to bring people together whilst having conversations about safety and confidence when exercising outdoors.

“As part of the operation, we’re going to be conducting patrols, including plain clothed runs in running hotspot areas, raising awareness of harassment and suspicious behaviour and encouraging reporting of it so we, as Police can take action and tackle it.”

Through this initiative, Catrin hopes to not only make local streets feel safer for women, but to shift attitudes and send a powerful message to the wider community that everyone should be able to run without fear. She plans to display posters in identified running hotspots around Rhyl with a QR code, making reporting any incidents a quick and easy process.

Head of Local Policing Services, Chief Superintendent Jackie Downes said: “Every woman has the right to feel safe when she goes out to run, exercise or simply enjoy her community.

“This initiative sends a clear message that harassment and misogyny will not be tolerated, and that women’s voices will be heard and acted upon.

“By encouraging female runners to report their experiences, we are strengthening our ability to identify offenders, intervene early and protect those at risk.

“This work directly supports our force priority of tackling violence against women and girls and reflects our commitment to listening to women, taking reports seriously and holding perpetrators to account.”

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