Anti-predator patrol Met works to make gigs safer for women

In the hours leading up to Dua Lipa's first headline show at Wembley Stadium, the stifling heat was as striking as the colours. Fans, resplendent in costumes inspired by their idol, milled around the concourse, and groups of women took selfies.

- Kate McCusker

But among the jollity, specialist Metropolitan police officers in the crowd were on the hunt for predatory men. Watching for offences from upskirting to sexual assault, seven specially trained officers stood on standby as scores of female fans, mostly between 14 and 30, filtered into the venue.

Part of an initiative billed as the first of its kind by the Met, the idea is to combat violence against women and girls in real time. According to the force, reports rose by more than a third between 2018 and 2023. By putting officers in places where women may be vulnerable while distracted by dancing with friends or enjoying a drink, officers are hoping to bring down numbers by stopping attacks before they happen.