Surrey PCC faced abuse over anti-catcall campaign

Lisa Townsend described the messages she received as the worst she had experienced

Surrey's police and crime commissioner (PCC) said the "vitriolic" online abuse she faced after an anti-catcalling campaign went viral highlighted the problem of violence against women and girls.

Surrey Police's Jog On campaign, which was trialled during summer, was led by a female police officer who had been harassed while running and aimed to address the issues many women face in public spaces.

Sparking a fierce online backlash, some critics questioned whether it was a good use of police resources.

Lisa Townsend, who said she was not directly involved in the initiative, described the messages she received on social media as the worst she had experienced in her time as Surrey PCC.

Surrey Police said officers made several stops to "warn and educate drivers about their behaviour towards female joggers", but no arrests were made.

But Townsend told a Police and Crime Panel on Thursday that becoming the target for "the most awful sort of language" illustrated "why this work is so important".

Criticised on X for wasting of taxpayer's money, Ms Townsend responded by stating that early intervention and prevention were essential parts of policing.

She added that behaviours dismissed as minor – like catcalling and public intimidation – can escalate into more serious offences.

'Under-reported crimes'

During the panel, councillors challenged Surrey Police's record in tackling the issue, claiming it was not possible to tell whether violence against women and girls had increased or decreased.

The volume of violent domestic abuse crimes reported in Surrey has decreased by 4% from 7,995 in June 2024 to 7,673 in June 2025, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, the volume of serious sexual offences has increased by 2% from June 2024 to June 2025.

Ms Townsend said: "I hope to see reports of violence against women and girls go up because it is one of the most under-reported crimes in this country.

"I think it's good if everyone who may not have had the confidence before comes forward to talk about an experience they've had.

"But I don't expect to see a reduction in reports anytime soon."