More than 100 incidents of sex-based harassment have been reported to Surrey Police in just six months, prompting the force to relaunch an undercover operation targeting men who harass women while they are out running.

Police recorded 105 incidents between April and October 2026 under new legislation making intentional sex-based harassment a specific offence punishable by up to two years in prison.

Of those cases, 17 remain under investigation, two have resulted in charges under the new offence, one has led to a charge for a different offence and four have been dealt with through community resolutions.

The figures come as Surrey Police launches the second phase of its Jog On campaign, which uses plain-clothed female officers posing as joggers to identify and challenge harassment in public spaces.

Uniformed officers and support teams remain nearby to intervene if the undercover officers are targeted.

The operation builds on tactics already used by police to identify predatory behaviour in pubs, clubs and town centres.

Officers will patrol locations across Surrey at different times of day, with operations designed to be unpredictable.

The campaign was first launched in 2025 and aims to tackle harassment that can leave women and girls feeling unsafe while exercising outdoors.

Temporary Inspector Nicola West, one of the officers leading the operation in West Surrey, said: “No woman or girl should feel intimidated, harassed or unsafe simply because she has chosen to go for a run.

“Jog On is about taking a proactive approach to this behaviour, challenging those responsible and making clear that harassment is not something anyone should have to accept as part of their everyday life.”

Police say the reports are helping them identify harassment hotspots and patterns of offending, allowing officers to target areas where women may be particularly vulnerable.

The new offence, introduced under Section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986, covers threatening behaviour, language or visual material intended to cause harassment, alarm or distress because of a person's sex.

Inspector West added: “We want women and girls to feel confident reporting what has happened to them. Every report gives us an opportunity to better understand experiences, identify patterns and inform our approach to how we can respond and tackle offending.”

Surrey Police is also working with local running clubs to understand women's experiences and identify locations where harassment is taking place.

Anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment is encouraged to report it through the Surrey Police website or by calling 101. In an emergency, call 999.

People can also use the StreetSafe service to anonymously identify public places where they feel unsafe.