Running Free, Running Safe: The experiences of harassment and abuse of women, girls and the wider running community in Worcestershire?

The research study was instigated by the Trauma and Violence Prevention (TVP) Research Group at the University of Worcester. This is a multi-disciplinary group of academic colleagues, PhD candidates and a diverse range of external organisations representing health services, public health, criminal justice agencies, education and the voluntary sector providing support for victim of trauma and abuse, among others. The study was inspired by the innovative Jog On Initiative which was introduced by West Yorkshire Police early in 2024. Subsequently, this resulted in the establishment of a local collaborative group to introduce the Jog On Initiative in Worcestershire. The research team was encouraged by the early signals across local agencies suggesting interest and support for this project. It should be noted that this research was not funded, but a later application to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia Police was successful, being granted in September 2025. This funding was then ringfenced for a separate follow up study to facilitate further awareness and bystander intervention work within and beyond the running community.

The aims of the Running Safe, Running Free research were as follows:

• To develop an initial baseline of understanding on the perceptions and experiences of personal safety of individual runners and members of the running communities of Worcestershire.
• To gain an insight on the experiences of harassment, threat and abuse of runners in Worcestershire.
• To compare the experiences of female and male runners who have experienced abuse and harassment.
• To compare the safety and risks of running spaces of city, urban and rural areas in Worcestershire.
• Following the launch of the Jog On Initiative to examine the frequency, nature and geographic distribution of incidents of abuse experienced by runners that are reported to the police in Worcestershire during and after the Jog On initiative.