About your Commissioner

Commissioner’s role & responsibilities

Lisa Townsend is your Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Commissioners were introduced in 2012 across England and Wales. Lisa was elected in 2021 to represent your views on police and crime in our county.

As your Commissioner, Lisa is responsible for the strategic oversight of Surrey Police, holding the Chief Constable to account on your behalf and commissioning key services that strengthen community safety and support victims.

One of the key tasks of your Commissioner is to set the Police and Crime Plan that outlines the priorities for Surrey Police.

Lisa is also responsible for overseeing key decisions including setting the budget for Surrey Police and managing the Surrey Police estate.

She is the national Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s lead for mental health and custody, and chair of the National Police Air Service strategic board.

The five priorities in the Police and Crime Plan for Surrey (2021-25) are:
  • Preventing violence against women and girls
  • Protecting people from harm in Surrey
  • Working with communities so that they feel safe
  • Strengthening relationships between Surrey Police and Surrey residents
  • Ensuring safer Surrey roads
cod of conduct arrows icon

Code of Conduct

View the Commissioner’s Oath of Office.

The Commissioner has signed up to a Code of Conduct, and the Committee on Standards in Public Life ‘Ethical Checklist’.

Salary and Expenses

The salaries of Police and Crime Commissioners are decided on a national basis and vary depending on the size of the force area they represent. The Commissioner in Surrey receives a salary of £73,300 pa.

You can see the Commissioner’s disclosable interests and expenses for 2023/24 here.

Read the Commissioner’s Allowance Scheme to learn more about the Commissioner’s expenses that may be claimed from our budget, or see the Gifts and Hospitality Register for other items that the Commissioner is required to declare.

You can also view the expenses and disclosable interests of the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner has also signed the Code of Conduct and receives a salary of £54, 975 pa.

Commissioner's roles and responsibilities
Commissioner's roles and responsibilities