Pop-up ‘VAWG’ Beat Surgery at The Common, Monday 23 March 2026 between 10am and 1pm
Posted by Highfield Residents' Association on Mar 22, 2026 in Crime Incidents | 0 comments
From Southampton Police on Facebook, 20 March 2026:
“Good afternoon Southampton,
As part of our VAWG* action next week officers will be holding a pop-up Beat Surgery at The Common on Monday 23rd between 1000-1300.
This is part of our efforts to prevent and deter exposure type activity in our open spaces.
Please come down to see us! We are here to answer your questions and hear your concerns.
We look forward to seeing you.”
*Violence Against Women and Children
From Southampton Police on Facebook, 19 March 2026 :
“Officers in Southampton will be carrying out increased patrols in parks and public spaces next week as teams focus on reducing violence against women and girls (VAWG) by discouraging and preventing the exposure type incidents that often increase at this time of year.
In 2024, we saw a series of indecent exposure incidents in public areas across the city – In response, we increased proactive patrols in locations such as Southampton Common and Riverside Park throughout the summer. Last year, we implemented these patrols again and saw a significant decrease in reports relating to exposure.
This year, we are once again out on proactive patrols, and our aim is simple: to see the number of reports reduce even further.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in public spaces. As the weather gets warmer and more people head outdoors, we want our parks and public spaces to be places the whole community can enjoy without fear of being targeted by this type of offending.
Indecent exposure is an abhorrent crime. It can have lasting emotional and psychological effects on victims, and it will never be tolerated in our city. Our officers will respond quickly to reports, and we will work tirelessly to identify offenders and bring them to justice.
We also need the public’s help. Timely reporting is crucial — it helps us build intelligence, understand where offending is taking place, and focus our patrols where they are needed most. If you witness or experience an incident, please report it:
• Call 999 if a crime is in progress
Every report matters. Every report helps us protect our communities.
You can find out more information about indecent exposure and what to do if someone exposes themselves to you here:” https://www.hampshire.police.uk/…/police-patrols…/….
