A secret police operation is underway at Harry Styles' record-breaking Wembley Stadium concerts, with undercover officers protecting thousands of women and girls from predatory behaviour. So far, one man in his 50s has been arrested for indecent exposure during the 12-night run.
Undercover Officers Blend In
The officers dress in glitter and sparkles, hiding handcuffs and walkie-talkies under their costumes. One officer proudly showed off a cowboy hat to blend in with the crowd. Their mission: to spot and disrupt potential upskirters and other offenders.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Wadey explained: "About 50 officers are deployed to look for this type of predatory behaviour. What they look for can range from catcalling to being generally obnoxious."
Signs of Predatory Behaviour
Officers look for men attending alone, especially those lingering around crowds of young women rather than heading into the venue. One officer said: "Yes, they could just be here because they love [Harry Styles]. But his fanbase is largely young women and girls. We would rather be safe than sorry."
During the concert, an undercover officer pointed out a man who was wandering through the crowd taking pictures of people and stalls, while most fans were photographing the stadium or posing with friends. The officers' intervention is simple: they strike up a conversation to disrupt potential criminal intent. "Just going up to them, making yourself known, can hopefully plant a seed of doubt in their mind and disrupt a crime before it happens," one officer said.
Wider Crackdown on Concert Crime
This summer, there have been seven arrests relating to violence against women and girls at concerts. Notably, Stephen Watkins, 42, has been charged with upskirting at a Bad Bunny concert in Tottenham on Sunday. The police operation at Wembley is part of a broader effort to ensure safety at large events.
Wadey added: "We want to tell criminals, you never know who is watching and if you behave in a way that is unacceptable, we will deal with you."
