Thursday, August 13, 2026
On Wednesday 12 August, Morecambe Police and Track Nights hosted an event to encourage reporting of harassment when exercising.
Launched this year by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, #GetTheMessage is a behaviour change campaign aimed at men and boys to highlight the impact of low-level harassment on women and girls.
As part of this campaign, and to encourage more women and girls to report harassment, Morecambe Police and Track Nights hosted a free track running event at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre.
In addition to a free exercise class, those who attended heard from PC Katie Foster who spoke on the police response to harassment and how women and girls can report concerns, NHS representative Rebecca White, an Emergency Department Navigator, and Clive Grunshaw who spoke about how his #GetTheMessage campaign is championing safety for women and girls across Lancashire.
Safety packs were also handed out which included reflective snap bands, personal alarms, and further information from both the Police and NHS on local safety initiatives.
Bottles of water were donated by McDonalds, and fresh fruit was donated by Morrisons in support of the event.
Low level harassment, or gateway offences, include unwanted sexual comments, intrusive staring, unwanted comments, online abuse, wolf whistling and catcalling. A survey from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner found a significant proportion of women felt compelled to restrict their behaviour, with 93% surveyed avoiding areas they deemed unsafe, and 91% crossing the street to avoid men.
PC Katie Foster, from Morecambe Police, said:
"As a local runner this is a topic which is really important to me. No woman should need to change or restrict behaviour just to be safe when out and about, not just exercising but walking the dog or simply nipping to the shops.
"Whilst #GetTheMessage is all about getting young men to be active bystanders and allies to challenge the behaviour of their peers, I also want to encourage women to report these incidents to us. We take reports of harassment seriously and by reporting offenders or areas that make you feel unsafe, we can better target our resources and work with partners to make real change across Morecambe.
"You can report harassment to us by calling 101 or using our online portal, or anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111. In an emergency, please always call 999.
"Although this event focused on women's safety it was open to all, as everyone has a role to play. Public sexual harassment is a criminal offence, and we are asking for men and boys to self-reflect on their own actions and call out the actions of others."
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said:
"This event is a great opportunity to highlight my #GetTheMessage campaign. When more than 90% of women in our county tell us they are changing their daily behaviour just to feel safe, that is something we cannot ignore.
“With the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act now in force, the message is clearer than ever: public sexual harassment is a crime, and perpetrators face up to two years in prison.
“Preventing violence against women and girls is the top priority in my Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire and I will continue to back the Constabulary in any efforts to tackle misogyny and harassment to ensure our county is a safe place for everyone."
