Women Report Feeling Unsafe Running After Dark

Female runners across the South West and Channel Islands say harassment and safety worries continue to shape how and where they exercise during darker months.

Many runners report experiences such as catcalling, intimidating behaviour and unwanted approaches while out at night. National campaigns like Let’s Lift the Curfew have helped highlight these concerns, with research from This Girl Can showing 72% of UK women change their outdoor exercise habits in winter.

Devon and Cornwall Police detective superintendent Nicky Seager called it “unacceptable” that women feel forced to adapt their routines, saying safety should not come at the cost of personal freedom.

Running groups across the region say moving in numbers brings confidence. Faye Hussey, who leads the women-only Fit2Run club in Newton Abbot, said members regularly face comments from passing drivers and pedestrians. “We shouldn’t have to feel unsafe doing something so simple,” she said.

Some, like Guernsey run leader Nina Mattison, feel safer thanks to well-lit routes and a strong local running community. Others are less comfortable. Cornwall runner Millie Owen says she now drives to brighter areas after frequent nighttime catcalling left her uneasy.

In Jersey, run leader Jen Gray encourages women to “buddy up” and wear high-visibility gear, saying group runs offer reassurance on darker routes. She believes awareness campaigns are helping people understand why so many women hesitate to exercise alone after sunset.

Police urge anyone experiencing harassment or intimidation while exercising to report incidents and continue to promote safety initiatives aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.