An initiative launched by a Police Now graduate to help women runners feel safer is now inspiring officers in other forces to take action in their own communities.
Catrin (Cat) Hughes, who graduated from Police Now’s programme in 2021 and now serves with North Wales Police, developed Operation Cadence after experiencing harassment while running with a local women’s group.
Despite being in her police uniform, she and the other runners were subjected to catcalling from passing men.
“If this is happening when we’re in a group and wearing police uniform, what’s happening when women are out on their own?” she recalls thinking.
Working in neighbourhood policing, Cat decided to take a proactive approach. She surveyed local running clubs and found that around 96% of respondents had either experienced harassment while exercising or felt unsafe doing so. Many said they hadn’t reported incidents because they didn’t believe it would lead to any action being taken.
In response, Cat developed Operation Cadence, combining community engagement, plain-clothes running patrols and educational interventions. She also worked with local partners and a charity to install QR-code signs directing people straight to North Wales Police’s online reporting platform, making it easier to report incidents as they happened.
The project gained widespread attention and was featured by national media. More importantly, it started conversations.
“A lot of women reached out to me directly,” says Cat. “They felt heard and supported. For many of them, it was the first time they felt somebody was taking the issue seriously.”
The initiative has since had an impact beyond North Wales Police, with officers from several forces getting in touch to learn more and explore how they could apply similar approaches in their own areas.
Among them is Police Now participant Georgia Harrison, who joined South Yorkshire Police as a neighbourhood officer in 2025.
Like Cat, Georgia is a runner and, like her, she has experienced harassment while out exercising.
“I went on one run earlier this year where men were beeping, shouting and a van full of men even pulled up alongside me, followed me around, laughing and shouting. It made me feel horrible.”
Inspired to take action, Georgia made women’s safety the focus of her first Police Now assessment, planning a community engagement event at a local running club designed to understand the experiences of local runners and explore ways to make them feel safer.
Determined to create a lasting impact, she decided to apply for funding and expand the idea into a larger initiative across her area.
As part of her research, she came across Cat’s work and reached out to learn more.
“I already knew about some work happening in other forces, but when I found Cat’s story, I reached out to her as a sounding board while I was putting together my business case.”
Georgia’s proposal recently secured funding from South Yorkshire Police’s innovation board and senior leadership team, giving her the opportunity to turn the project into reality. She is now preparing to work with local running clubs and Parkrun groups to better understand women’s experiences, identify patterns of offending and develop practical solutions to help women feel safer while exercising.
For her, the project reflects what first attracted her to neighbourhood policing.
“I like getting stuck into projects and initiatives that can make a difference,” she says. “You have the opportunity to listen to communities and find solutions.”
Georgia is particularly passionate about supporting women and tackling violence against women and girls.
“I’m one of only a few female officers on my team,” she says. “A lot of women don’t realise the strengths they bring to policing. Empathy, listening and making people feel heard are incredibly important skills and are central to building trust in communities.”
Georgia is one of several officers inspired by Cat’s work. Officers from South Wales Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary have also reached out to discuss similar approaches and exchange learning.
For Cat, that’s become one of the project’s most meaningful outcomes.
“If it’s helped another force do something that makes women feel safer, that’s a win.”
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