Damian Kitchen has responded to several reports of these types of incidents in the past week and said that he had the highest expectations of his officers in preventing, responding to and investigating incidents where woman and girls have been made to feel intimidated or unsafe.
‘There is never an excuse for this behaviour, it is abhorrent, and I will ensure we push for the firmest possible action and charges for all perpetrators,’ he said.
‘I will also ensure that we debrief and reflect on our performance.
‘While we have had positive outcomes and results this week, we can always do better.’
On Wednesday evening officers arrested a 39-year-old man in relation to an incident that took place in St Peter Port last weekend.
He has been bailed to appear in court in December.
The 41-year-old previously arrested in relation to the incident has been released without charge.
The woman involved in the incident posted on social media that she was ‘harassed multiple times’ while she waited for her husband to collect her from the pier, with the man apparently trying to encourage her into the car.
The incident followed reports that a 13-year-old girl was followed and harassed by a man near Les Beaucamps High School on Wednesday 4 November.
Other incidents of a similar nature have also been reported.
Mr Kitchen said that while there was no direct link between any of the incidents, and were all perpetrated by different people, every report was similar in that a man was acting inappropriately towards a woman and made her feel unsafe.
‘As a community we must ensure women and girls feel safe.
‘To the men who need to hear this – it really isn’t complicated,’ he said.
‘Treat women and girls with the respect you would want others to show your loved ones, and don’t behave in a way that makes them feel unsafe.
‘To everyone, if you see someone who is obviously uncomfortable, or is being harassed, call it out and if needed, call us out.’
Anyone with information about any inappropriate behaviour toward women and girls, whether related to an ongoing investigation or not, should contact the police on 01481 222 222.
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