Brisbane runner feared for life amid morning harassment, hesitant to report due to past police inaction

Kate, a mother of two, was running in Brisbane at 5:30 a.m. when a car followed her closely. The occupant made "awful things" to her, causing her to fear for her life. This was not her first experience with harassment while running, but it was the most terrifying.

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The person in the car wound down their window and they were saying some very awful things to me.

She was hesitant to report the incident because of past experiences where police did not take her concerns seriously. After a similar past complaint about a man deemed "harmless," she found it difficult to file this report. It took three police officers and three phone calls to have her details taken.

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I actually thought, 'You know what, I think today is going to be the day and I might not make it home to my family today.'

Kate's experience resonated with many, including Jan, a Redcliffe resident who has avoided exercising alone in the dark for 60 years. Katie Dall, founder of the Club KT Walk Run Club, stated that harassment of female runners in Brisbane is frequent. She believes the city is not safe for women exercising alone, even during the day, and that police should do more to raise awareness and prevent harassment. Dall argues that the onus should not be on women to change their behavior.

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I've had some experiences before with reporting these types of things where my concerns haven't been taken seriously.