The reason why extra police officers have been spotted in rural areas near Amersham has been confirmed.

In the evening of Friday, October 25, members of the force were located Hodgemoor Woods, Botterells Lane near Chalfont St Giles and Coleshill after unwanted actions from members of the public were spotted.

Thames Valley Police said that ‘officers will continue to pay passing attention to the area.’

It has since been confirmed that the increase in police personnel is due to the rise of dogging and outdoor sexual escapades in the area.

Members of the public and dogwalkers have been spotted parking their vehicles along Botterells Lane in the village, before making their way into the woodland.

Most of the activity happens between 12noon and 2pm and 6pm to 8pm on weekends.

At lunchtime, there are usually fewer vehicles than in the evening, but local residents say it is ‘rare’ for there to be no vehicles at those peak times.

One resident told the Free Press that a ‘typical scenario’ is that a car will park in a layby and leave its lights on.

Then, when another vehicle arrives, one of the drivers will get out of their respected motors and head into the woods.

The second driver will follow a couple of minutes later.

On one occasion, ‘five or six cars parked at the bottom of Bottrells Lane near the A355’, with some being ‘occupied.’

The resident also revealed that ‘until recently’, a sign in the layby adjacent to the A355 said ‘Police operation in progress’, but this has now been ‘ripped off its post’.

The presence of HS2 cameras in the layby mentioned has also ‘driven some of the parking and dogging activity further up Bottrells Lane.’

Following a sudden increase, Thames Valley Police were notified and deployed extra officers in the area as a deterrent for those who wanted to commit the act.

On October 25, several vehicles ‘moved on’ after they saw the presence of a police car in the area.

Large amounts of litter were also spotted, which mainly consisted of empty beer and cider cans.

Under British law, dogging is related to acts similar to voyeurism, exhibitionism or public displays of sexual behaviour.

People can be prosecuted under the Public Order Act of 1986, and the Sexual Offences Act of 2003.

However, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ policy was that arrests ‘are a last resort’. 

Conservative councillor for Chalfont St Giles, Carl Jackson, told the Free Press: “Families and dogwalkers should not have to worry about encountering men engaged in sexual activity when they walk in Hodgemoor Woods.

“I have asked Thames Valley Police to conduct more targeted patrols of the woods to deter and disrupt this disgusting activity.

“I am grateful to PCSO Jacqueline Day for patrolling the area in recent days.”