Suffolk police commissioner says women should not have to change behaviour to avoid harassment
Suffolk PCC, Tim Passmore, has called for improvements to how harassment is reported to police.
Tim Passmore says women should not have to change their behaviour to avoid harassment while running, and has criticised the accessibility of national police reporting systems.
His comments follow the launch of a campaign by West Yorkshire Police targeting the harassment and abuse of female runners.
The initiative, called Jog On, has been introduced in Wakefield following earlier operations in Bradford and Leeds.
A survey conducted by police in Wakefield found that 80% of respondents had experienced some form of harassment while running, but just 4% had reported incidents to the police.
Separately, a national survey by Runner's World magazine found that 60% of female runners had experienced harassment, particularly from men in cars.
'You shouldn't have to do that'
Speaking to us, Mr Passmore said there was no excuse for women being subjected to harassment while exercising.
"There's no excuse for people harassing, particularly females if they're going out jogging," he said.
"And I know you'll have the old comments, well, don't do it on your own and keep safe, well lit, etc. You shouldn't have to do that."
He acknowledged that people exercising in rural parts of Suffolk may face additional challenges because of limited street lighting and footpaths.
However, he insisted responsibility should lie with those responsible for the harassment.
"But people should behave themselves. They know it's wrong, so don't do it," he added.
Concerns over reporting harassment
Mr Passmore also questioned whether police reporting systems are accessible enough to encourage people to come forward.
"We're always encouraging people to report all crime or suspicious incidents," he said.
"We have to find a way of better use of technology to make it far easier for people to report it."
While highlighting investment in Suffolk's digital desk, the commissioner criticised the national Single Online Home police reporting website.
"It's remarkably clunky and tedious to go through it. That needs an urgent review so that it's far easier and quicker to use."
He suggested police forces should make greater use of services such as WhatsApp, particularly in rural areas where mobile phone signals may be unreliable.
Mr Passmore said making it easier to report crime was only part of the challenge, with police also needing sufficient resources to follow up incidents and investigate evidence.
Warning over proposed funding reductions
The commissioner also criticised what he described as a Home Office proposal to reduce serious violence funding by a third next year.
He claimed the amounts had already been agreed and described the prospect of reducing them as "completely reprehensible".
Mr Passmore warned that such a reduction could have consequences for the safety of women and girls.
"That will be very unhelpful and again compromises the potential safety of women and girls," he said.
His criticism comes as the Government seeks to deliver on its commitment to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
The Government published its Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy in December 2025, setting out plans focused on prevention, pursuing perpetrators and supporting victims.
The precise funding stream referred to by Mr Passmore, whether any reduction has been formally proposed, and what impact it could have on Suffolk have yet to be established.
The Home Office has been approached for comment on Mr Passmore's claims and the potential implications for local policing.
Police operation targets harassment of runners
West Yorkshire Police's Jog On campaign involves female officers running in plain clothes in areas identified as potential harassment hotspots.
Police say officers have experienced antisocial and harassing behaviour during the operations, with individuals spoken to and enforcement measures used where appropriate.
The initiative also involves training to help members of the public intervene when they witness harassment.
Sergeant Cat Hardwick, who leads the Wakefield campaign, said officers had heard from women who felt harassment had become an accepted part of running.
"We found that many runners said they had come to accept abuse and harassment like this to an extent that they didn't even report it to the police - they just did not feel it would be taken seriously."
There has been no announcement of an equivalent Jog On operation in Suffolk.
Mr Passmore has called for improvements to reporting systems and greater capacity within policing to ensure incidents can be investigated.
We've contacted the Home Office for a response.