Officers could pose as joggers to deter harassment

West Mercia Police's chief constable Richard Cooper says his force is prioritising the safety of women and girls

Jogging undercover officers could be used to help make streets safer for female runners.

Plain clothes officers from West Mercia Police currently patrol Worcester city centre in the evening as part of a crackdown on violence against women and girls.

Now the force's chief constable has said female officers could also be sent out jogging in key locations across the force area of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.

It follows similar initiatives from forces such as Surrey Police this year as part of the Jog On campaign.

"Recent studies have shown violence and often sexualised verbal abuse against women and girls is on the increase," Worcestershire councillor Richard Udall said.

He said a recent study in Worcester had shown that 60% women said they had been victims of physical or verbal abuse while out running.

"This is being tackled in other areas of the country, particularly Surrey and south Yorkshire, with undercover women police officers out running, with patrol cars following them," he said.

Recent studies show a rise in violence against women and girls, says councillor Richard Udall

Chief constable Richard Cooper said the force was prioritising the safety of women and girls, and the prevention and detection of offences against them.

"There's a variety of tactics that we employ, including plain clothes officers in the night-time economy, which perhaps is a more focussed point of danger for women and girls."

He added that in Herefordshire they had recently provided alarms specifically for women and girls out running – and this was something which may also be possible in Worcestershire.

In Telford, initiatives such as a Walk and Talk scheme have been aimed at helping women feel safer on the streets.

"In relation to the deployment of undercover officers, if there is a location and a threat that is precise enough for us to think that is going to yield a benefit, then yes that is something we can do," he said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.