Dorset Police news site

An operation targeting predatory behaviour in the night-time economy and at other key times is furthering Dorset Police’s commitment to the supporting the safety of women and girls.

Project Vigilant is a proactive operation that sees uniformed and non-uniformed officers working together to provide enhance patrols and spot the early signs of suspicious and harassing behaviour, allowing police to intervene before there is further escalation.

The uniformed presence offers a visible reassurance to members of the public, with officers engaging with the public and highlighting our commitment to being here for the safety of women and girls in Dorset.

Meanwhile, non-uniformed are able to operate discretely and identify behaviours that may not be visible to uniformed patrols, this can include signs of predatory intent such as following, targeting or persistently approaching individuals who may be visible as well as harassment, cat-calling and other forms of sexual misconduct.

Where appropriate, non-uniformed officers will intervene directly or coordinate with uniformed colleagues to disrupt activity and safeguard those at risk.

Officers will have a range of positive responses available depending on the severity of the behaviour, from words of advice to dispersal orders or arrests.

The initiative marks a shift in focus from the actions of victims to holding perpetrators accountable.

The locations of the patrols will be informed by the latest intelligence, targeting key areas in the night-time economy and other relevant times.

We are also asking women and girls to tell us about their experiences and any areas where they feel unsafe, with a survey now running at Understanding Sexual Predatory Behaviour and Reporting in Dorset – Fill in form.

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Halford, Dorset Police’s lead for Project Vigilant, said: “Project Vigilant is about acting early - spotting the signs, intervening at the right time, and ensuring people feel safe while enjoying our town centres. As we move into the busy summer season, these deployments reinforce our commitment to protecting the public.

“While Dorset remains one of the safest places in the country for people living in and visiting our towns, we want all members of our communities to feel safe when enjoying an evening out and we recognise that women and girls are disproportionately affected by harassment and violence.

“This project is a further demonstration of our commitment to being here for the safety of women and girls in our public spaces.

“By having teams of non-uniformed officers working alongside uniformed colleagues, we can effectively spot signs of predatory behaviour while also providing a visible policing presence and together they can take positive action to prevent, deter and tackle harmful behaviour.

“We want members of the public to play their part and are asking them to be active bystanders, call out anything they see that doesn’t feel right and report any offences to police.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “Tackling violence against women and girls remains one of my highest priorities and is a key commitment in my Police and Crime Plan. That is why I fully support Project Vigilant, which takes a proactive approach to protecting women and girls.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe when they are out enjoying Dorset’s towns and night-time economy. Those who target, harass or intimidate women should be under no illusion that this behaviour is unacceptable and Dorset Police will take robust action wherever possible.

“Project Vigilant is about prevention as much as enforcement, and I hope it sends a clear message that predatory behaviour has no place in Dorset.

"I would also encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious or concerning behaviour to report it to Dorset Police. By working together, we can continue making Dorset one of the safest places in the country for women, girls and our wider communities.”