Worcester MP labels abuse and harassment to male and female runners as 'utterly unacceptable'
A University of Worcester study has identified incidents of runners being shouted at from cars, chased by dogs, and having items thrown at them while out exercising
The MP for Worcester has deemed the findings of a survey into abuse faced by runners across Worcestershire as "devastating".
A University of Worcester study revealed the vast majority of female respondents had experienced harassment while out running.
The Running Free, Running Safe survey heard from 101 people in total, 61 women and 40 men, with more than half of those reporting experiencing harassment and abuse.
It found the abuse most common in being directed at women took the form of men shouting obscene and sexualised remarks or comments from vehicles and the shouted abuse was often about the victims’ appearance.
“It is utterly unacceptable"
Labour's Tom Collins says this should be something no one has to go through.
“I’m pretty devastated reading this report to be honest, running is something anybody should be able to do freely in our community yet we are in a situation where that is clearly not the case,” he said.
"“For women in particular there is this sexual component as well which makes it all the more harmful and unjust.
“It is utterly unacceptable and should not be happening at all.”
The research also asked participants what changes, if any, they made after being targeted by abuse.
Particularly for women, responses included running in groups rather than alone, not running early in the morning or late in the evening and sticking to built up areas away from streets with poor lighting.
"This is an immense problem"
"There is some pretty obvious things which we could all name that could help with this, for example, better policing and I know that is something Labour is trying to do to try and get more police officers on our streets to make our streets feel safer, another one is street lighting," Collins said.
“I think this goes deeper than this though and we need to recognise that.
“Particularly the sexual abuse that women are experiencing, this is an immense problem and we are seeing a culture of misogyny strengthening in the UK which is really disturbing.”
The study has now entered its second phase to record the experiences of runners in the lighter summer months.