New PSNI scheme targets predatory behaviours

A scheme identifying individuals who may be displaying predatory behaviours – such as harassment, loitering without reason and stalking – has been launched by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Project Vigilant is a new initiative being piloted in Londonderry.

Operations are being carried out “with the aim of proactively preventing violence and sexual offences against women and girls, whilst also ensuring anyone of any gender can enjoy their night out safely”.

For the 12 months to 31July 2025, there were 2,423 rape and sexual assault offences reported to the PSNI, not linked to domestic abuse, of which 320 offences occurred between 22:00 and 06:00.

The PSNI said that on Halloween night (31 October), when the scheme was launched, plain clothed and uniformed officers had made an arrest for upskirting.

The police had also “intervened in six situations where predatory behaviours were being displayed towards vulnerable people, including towards a child from a children’s home”.

The new scheme is “aimed at targeting perpetrator behaviours, which are often displayed before a sexual offence takes place”.

The PSNI added that uniformed officers and plain clothed officers will target public areas surrounding busy pubs and clubs in Derry and “throughout ‘Op Season’s Greetings’ before then formalising the operation for use across all districts in 2026”.

It has also introduced a new internal mapping tool, which will have input from reports of violence, abuse or intimidation of women and girls.

This will allow local officers to identify “problem” areas and target resources.

The PSNI said that since the launch of its Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan in September 2022, three years on (to end of August 2025), officers had made 5,042 arrests under new legislation on domestic abuse, stalking and non-fatal strangulation.

They had conducted hundreds of “targeted patrols” in their attempt to “relentlessly pursue perpetrators”.

It has also put in place four Stalking Protection Orders using new legislation.

Ch Supt Gillian Kearney, the PSNI’s Lead for Project Vigilant said a lot of people, particularly women and girls, were not feeling safe when out at night.

“We’re pleased to be launching an initial pilot of this initiative across Northern Ireland as part of our continued commitment to address targeted predatory behaviours, particularly towards women and girls,” she said.

“We know that the hospitality sector in Derry/Londonderry works hard to create safe places for people to go out and have fun so this is another way that we are working in partnership to make their customers feel even safer.

“We will have eyes and ears in night time economy spaces, and not always in uniform, looking out for anybody who is showing signs of potential perpetrator behaviours and intervening before they might go on to commit a serious sexual offence.”

Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault, whether recently or in the past, can contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland to report it here or by calling 101.