AS THOUSANDS of students prepare to celebrate Freshers’ Week, Thames Valley Police is focusing one of its projects to keep students safe.
Project Vigilant activity is being concentrated around universities, night-time economy and public spaces to keep students safe from sexually predatory behaviour.
It uses a combination of uniformed and plain-clothed officers to patrol public areas around pubs, bars and nightclubs, identifying individuals whose behaviour indicates they may pose a risk to others.
Where concerns are identified, officers will engage with individuals to deter and disrupt their behaviour, including using our powers of arrest if necessary.
Project Vigilant officers will be deployed throughout Freshers’ Weeks in the vicinity of the University of Reading and Buckinghamshire New University in the coming weeks.
The initiative has a proven track record of identifying individuals linked to offending. Between April 2025 and March 2026, more than 260 people across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire came to the attention of Project Vigilant.
Of those identified, approximately 35% had a recorded history of violence or sexual offending, including previous physical violence, sexual violence and other sexual offences.
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most significant challenges facing policing nationally. VAWG offences account for at least one in five crimes recorded across England and Wales, while reports of child sexual abuse and exploitation have increased substantially over the past decade. In the year ending March 2023, more than one million VAWG offences were recorded nationwide, equating to almost 3,000 offences every day.
To reassure the public, Thames Valley Police’s plain-clothed officers operate only in public spaces. They do not enter licensed premises as part of Project Vigilant patrols and always work in pairs. Plain-clothed officers will only approach members of the public when there is an immediate threat to safety or to intervene in suspicious behaviour.
Project Vigilant was originally launched by Thames Valley Police in 2019 following a series of sexual assaults linked to the night-time economy.
The approach has since been adopted by more than 20 police forces across England and Wales as part of wider efforts to prevent sexual violence and keep people safe on nights out and in public spaces.
Detective Inspector Laura Gregory, who leads Project Vigilant, said: “Freshers’ Week should be an enjoyable experience for students, without fear of harassment, unwanted attention or sexual offending.
“Project Vigilant is designed to identify and disrupt predatory behaviour before offences take place. Our officers will be out across the night-time economy, engaging with those whose behaviour causes concern and taking robust action where offences are committed.
“We want everyone to feel safe on a night out. We’re here to protect people, prevent harm and ensure those looking to target others know they are not welcome.”
