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Women's running group given camera to tackle harassment

Sumaiya MotaraLeyland
News imageSumaiya Motara/BBC A woman in a blue vest top and a neon yellow cap stands, smiling and facing the camera. She is wearing a black and yellow body camera with straps around her shoulders. Behind her is a white wall with a picture of trees. There is also a blue vending machine behind her.Sumaiya Motara/BBC
Lancashire Constabulary provided the body-worn camera for the runners

A women's running group has been given a body-worn camera by Lancashire Police in a bid to tackle harassment and cat-calling.

Members of South Ribble Runners, based in Leyland, said they had experienced incidents that left them feeling unsafe while exercising outdoors.

The camera was provided as part of Lancashire Police's 'Her Right to Roam' project, funded by the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime.

Club chair Samantha Daglish said: "People get used to intimidation or harassment and that isn't acceptable.

"Having the body-worn camera means we can share any evidence we capture and continue spreading the message that this behaviour is not acceptable."

News imageSumaiya Motara/BBC A large group of women wearing brightly coloured exercise clothing stand smiling in a grey room, facing the camera. The floor is brown, and the ceiling has lights. There is a window on the wall, and it is dark outside.Sumaiya Motara/BBC
The body camera will allow women to capture and report harassment to the police

She added: "It should be safe for women to exercise outdoors.

"You shouldn't have to worry about what time of day you go out. You should be able to go out without suffering any abuse."

The camera will be worn during the group's twice-weekly runs from Leyland Leisure Centre. Any incidents will be reported to police, who will be able to review the footage.

South Ribble PCSO Danielle Berry, who helped secure the camera for the club, said: "We know that even low-level behaviours such as cat-calling can have a significant impact on how safe women feel and that's why it's important we take action.

"We take all reports of harassment seriously and hope the presence of the body-worn camera will act as a deterrent, but if incidents do occur it will also help us gather valuable evidence and support any investigation."

She said footage could also help police identify harassment hotspots and patterns, including times when incidents were more likely to occur.

News imageSumaiya Motara/BBC A woman stands smiling at the camera, she is wearing black glasses, a blue top with the words South Ribble Runners on the logo, and a yellow jacket. She is in front of a beige wall.Sumaiya Motara/BBC
The body-worn camera means the police can see hot spots of reported harassment

The group is backing Sport England's 'This Girl Can' campaign, which found 55% of women felt unsafe exercising outdoors alone after dark, compared with 33% of men.

The research also found concern about sexual harassment or intimidation after dark had risen among women from 60% in 2023 to 69%.

Among those supporting the initiative is run leader Sally Maddock.

"We should be allowed to roam the streets and run without any fear or any worries, particularly when it gets dark," she said.

While incidents of harassment do sometimes occur, she said she hoped the camera would act as a deterrent.

News imageSumaiya Motara/BBC A woman with blonde hair stands smiling and facing the camera. She is wearing a blue top and a black jacket with a green logo. Behind her is a few collaged images of a horse statue, a maze, and a statue of a man.Sumaiya Motara/BBC
Samantha Daglish asked the police for safer measures for women's running groups

The initiative forms part of Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner's 'Get The Message' campaign, which is aimed at men and boys and seeks to help women and girls feel safer in public spaces.

Runner Kirstie Joyce said it was "sad" the camera was needed.

"It's a really terrible thing that we have to adjust our behaviour to the world we're in," she said.

"If it's something that means we can have autonomy and agency to make our own decisions, I think it's a really good thing."

News imageSumaiya Motara/BBC A woman with white hair wearing a green neck scarf, a pink jacket, a blue top, and a yellow high visibility vest stands smiling at the camera. She is wearing a body worn light, strapped around her body. She is standing in front of an open doorway, and behind her is a floor poster. Next to her, on the white wall, is a poster.Sumaiya Motara/BBC
The group often uses lights and high visibility jackets while they are running

Fellow runner Lucille Porter said she would never run alone in the evening.

"We want girls and women to be safe out and about in the evenings, especially when we go running," she said.

Although the nights were drawing in, she said running with others helped her feel safe.

"It's just nice to be out and about and chat, put the world to rights as we run along."

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