Police pose as joggers at running hotspots

UNDERCOVER officers have been deployed to a famous North Wales seaside destination, as part of a fresh bid to improve safety for women and girls’ running.

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Police launched a plain-clothed patrol run on Saturday evening, along Rhyl promenade, where issues have been reported. The initiative, known as Operation Cadence, saw officers swapping uniforms for running gear to blend in with the public.

It comes as women’s participation in running surges, with women and girls making up nearly 50% of recreational runners in 2022, up from 13% in 1997.

But a 2024 University of Manchester study found that 68% of 498 women surveyed in the UK had experienced abuse while running.