Project Vigilant

Tackling predatory behaviour

Project Vigilant sees uniformed and non-uniformed officers working together to provide enhance patrols tackling predatory behaviour in Dorset’s night-time economy.

Officers have been specially trained to identify suspicious behaviours, including harassment, cat-calling and other forms of sexual misconduct. Officers will be able to intervene early to take positive action and prevent an escalation of behaviour.

They 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 victims to holding perpetrators accountable.

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.

The patrols will be informed by the latest intelligence, targeting key areas in the night-time economy, and 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

We want all members of our communities to feel safe when enjoying an evening out but we recognise that women and girls are disproportionately affected by harassment and violence. We want them to know that we are here for the safety of women and girls in Dorset, will support victims and will take action to ensure perpetrators are held to account.

Dorset Police’s lead for Project Vigilant

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Halford, Dorset Police’s lead for Project Vigilant, said: “We want everyone to feel safe enjoying a night out in Dorset’s towns and 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.”