Plain-clothed female officers are now running alongside women on Macclesfield’s towpaths and parks as part of a new summer push to tackle harassment. Cheshire Constabulary launched Operation Intervention this month, stepping up patrols on popular routes across the east of the county after residents raised repeated concerns about intimidating behaviour.
Inspector Richard Haque of Macclesfield Local Policing Unit’s Neighbourhood Team said everyone has the right to enjoy a run without being subjected to sexualised comments or general harassment that can seriously dent confidence and a sense of personal safety. Officers have already deployed to locations where problems were previously reported, though no offences have been identified during the proactive patrols so far.
The campaign follows the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023, which came into force on 1 April 2026 and makes it a criminal offence to intentionally harass or cause alarm or distress to anyone in public because of their sex or presumed sex. Residents are urged to report any harassment to the police, who say they will take appropriate action against anyone exhibiting intolerable behaviour.
Operation Intervention will run throughout the summer, with officers maintaining a visible presence on canal towpaths, in parks, and along other well-used running routes. The plain-clothed female officers joining runners will continue their deployments, and the force has reminded the community that reports of sexual harassment or intimidating behaviour are treated with the utmost seriousness.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
