Policewomen in the UK go for a run to stop harassment (4 photos + 1 video)
Undercover police officers in Britain have launched a new campaign to crack down on men who whistle or make sexual comments at women. In Surrey, two officers took to the streets during rush hour to show the scale of the problem. 
The government has said it is important to crack down on the behaviour, even though it is not considered a criminal offence. The campaign has sparked outrage from free speech campaigners, who say the police should only be enforcing existing laws.
Reporters spent the evening in Reigate, Surrey, joining patrol officers. The operation involved plainclothes women dressed in tracksuits heading to areas known to be harassment hotspots, with riot police on standby to respond to any abuse. 
And within minutes the women had attracted the attention of a lorry driver, who was honking and gesturing at them.
Inspector John Vale said: “One of our officers had her honking for ten minutes. And then 30 seconds later another driver pulled up, honked his horn and started gesturing. That’s how often it happens. It’s not a crime, but it can have a huge impact on everyday life and stop women doing things they normally do, like running.”
"We need to find out if this person is going to take action? Are they sexually motivated? We want to prevent danger in advance."
Abby Hayward, who posed as a runner, said many women face intrusive attention on a daily basis. Over the four-week trial, police made 18 arrests for crimes including sexual assault and theft.
Insp Vale added: “We have taken a number of actions following reports of harassment of our plainclothes female officers. In these situations it is important to clarify what constitutes anti-social behaviour. We will seek to ensure that repeat offenders and those who commit more serious offences are dealt with with rigorous penalties. We understand the concerns of women and girls and will continue to patrol jogging routes. We have female officers who have experienced this type of behaviour outside of work. My message to offenders is that your actions will not be tolerated. Please consider how you would treat your wife, mother or sister. Next time you see a woman running, imagine that there might be police officers nearby."
