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North Wales Police have launched a new initiative aimed at making popular running routes safer for women and girls. The scheme, known as Operation Cadence, was developed by officer and keen runner PC Catrin Hughes, who hopes it will encourage women to come forward and report any instances of harassment or abuse they encounter while running. Research indicates that a significant proportion of women face some form of abuse during their runs, encompassing threats, verbal harassment, flashing, physical and sexual assaults, and even objects being thrown.
The program has gained positive feedback from local running communities, including Gwen Owen, founder of the Môn Girls Run Club. Owen described Operation Cadence as a “brilliant” and much-needed initiative. Her club organizes group runs across various towns in North Wales, such as Bangor, Menai Bridge, and Wrexham. Despite running together, members often face disrespectful behaviour like men shouting from cars or honking horns. Owen recounted a particularly unsettling occasion where her group was forced to stop due to verbal abuse from passing drivers and another incident involving a man mockingly demanding they “go faster” after picking up food from a takeaway.
A 2024 survey conducted by the University of Manchester involving nearly 500 women revealed that 68% reported having been abused during runs. Nearly one-fifth had experienced being followed, while smaller but significant percentages noted being flashed at or subjected to other abusive behaviours, often involving vehicles. PC Catrin Hughes, who has served with North Wales Police since 2022, emphasized the importance of feeling safe while running and shared that Operation Cadence involves police patrols—including plainclothes runs—in known running hotspots. These patrols aim not only to monitor for suspicious behavior but also to raise awareness and actively encourage reporting to enable police intervention.
Chief Superintendent Jackie Downes, head of local policing, stressed that every woman should feel safe during outdoor activities like running. She highlighted that the initiative sends a strong message that harassment and misogyny will not be tolerated, and that victims’ experiences will be taken seriously to hold offenders accountable. While North Wales Police is currently the only force in Wales running this specific program, other local police forces support campaigns like Own the Night, which share similar goals of improving safety for women runners. Despite some criticism online, the effort has been widely recognized for addressing the very real fears women face, even when running in groups
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