Category: Children and young people

Campaign to prevent “widespread” issue of youth-produced sexual images to be rolled out in Surrey’s schools

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A CAMPAIGN to prevent children and young people asking their peers for sexual images will now be available for use by schools in Surrey.

“Ok To Ask?” launched on social media in March 2024 with a series of short video clips depicting teenagers responding to pressure from their peers to share or request nudes.

The campaign, led by Surrey Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), actively involved young people throughout the research and development phases. It was designed to initiate thought, challenge perceptions, and empower young people to reject harmful behaviour while supporting their peers.

Now, a teaching and learning resource developed by Surrey Healthy Schools in partnership with the OPCC will ensure the initiative can be used as a cornerstone of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) classes across the county.

Funding for both initiatives was secured by the OPCC from the Home Office’s What Works Fund in 2022. The former Government granted £1million to provide a package of support for young people to help combat violence against women and girls.

The funding supported both the Ok To Ask? campaign and specialist training for PSHE leads in schools and a host of professionals in Surrey to develop life skills and support their health and wellbeing.

As the project draws to an end, Surrey Healthy Schools has developed a package of teaching and learning resources for children in Key Stages three to five.

This includes guidance on facilitating effective PSHE lessons with a focus on digital safety, assessment guidance and activities, three lesson plans, and advice for teachers.

Schools boost

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said: “Youth-produced sexual imagery is a widespread issue across the country, and has considerable risks for young people.

“We want to challenge perceptions that it should be considered just a ‘normal’ part of teenage life and provide support for those who might be in a situation where they are under pressure to do so.

“Nearly a third of all sexual images of children found online are youth-produced, showing how harmful this behaviour can be.

“The crime of ‘sextortion’ – a form of blackmail using sexual images for gain – is rising in the county. Supporting young people with making decisions and understanding the impact of these is an important part of preventing this harm.

‘Insightful’

“The Force’s primary aim will be to safeguard young people, but it is also a crime to take, make, show or possess indecent images of any person below the age of 18. That is true even if the person with those images is also under 18.

“Ok To Ask? has been hugely successful, with millions of views, and we are determined to work alongside young people to support them in navigating some of these challenging issues.

“I’m delighted that my brilliant Commissioning team were able to secure funding for this crucial project, and that Surrey Police, working closely with young people from across the county, have produced such an insightful campaign.”

For more information, or to access the resources, visit the Surrey Healthy Schools website. Parents and carers can also access support via the Ok To Ask? homepage.   

“Ok To Ask?” launched in March 2024 with a series of short video clips depicting teenagers responding to pressure from their peers to share or request nudes. The campaign, which actively involved young people throughout the research and development phases, was designed to trigger thought, challenge perceptions, and empower young people to reject harmful behaviour while supporting their peers.

The digital performance of the “Ok To Ask?” campaign is extremely promising, with more than six million impressions to our target audiences. But, when evaluating the success of a digital campaign aimed at behaviour change, particularly one encouraging young people to reflect on their beliefs and attitudes, the metrics of success differ from traditional campaigns focused on clicks and sales. Success isn’t about immediate transactional outcomes but about deep, reflective engagement with the content. And that’s where you come in…

The “Ok To Ask?” campaign has proven to be both impactful and effective, sparking conversations among young people about consent, boundaries, and respect, but we need these conversations to continue to create meaningful change.
Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands beside a large blue sign that reads 'Welcome to Surrey Police headquarters'. Her hands are clasped and she is smiling at the camera. Lisa is wearing pink trousers and a green long-sleeved top.

“Back-to-basics policing is the cornerstone”: Commissioner launches new Police and Crime Plan for Surrey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has unveiled a new blueprint for policing in the county over the next three years.

The Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan sets out the priorities she wants Surrey Police to concentrate on during the rest of her current term of office, which ends in 2028.

The Plan features a focus on ‘back to basics’ policing, preventing violence against women and girls, protecting Surrey’s most vulnerable residents, and ensuring the accountability, integrity and wellbeing of the Force’s officers and staff.

It was created following an extensive consultation period where nearly 3,000 residents gave their views, together with community groups, businesses, partners and victims’ services.

Police and Crime Commissioners are required to produce a Police and Crime Plan every four years and it will form the basis upon which Lisa holds the Chief Constable to account for the policing service Surrey Police provide.

Surrey Police is one of the fastest-improving forces in the country having more than doubled its charge rate in the past 12 months, with an additional 3,500 offences prosecuted.

Charges for burglary, assault, retail crime, rape and child abuse have significantly increased, and an additional 2,500 arrests have been made across all crime types.

But the Commissioner said there are challenges ahead. The Force has to find around £18million in savings over the next four years, while criminal justice delays are putting additional pressure on victims’ services.

The Force is also facing increasing demand on ‘hidden’ crime, such as domestic abuse, fraud, and the online exploitation of children, which target some of the most vulnerable people in Surrey.



Force among fastest-improving

Lisa said: “My mission as your Police and Crime Commissioner is clear.

“I want Surrey Police to focus on tackling those crimes that blight our local communities, while also taking persistent offenders off our streets.

“I promised that we would return to a ‘back to basics’ approach to policing, and this pledge forms the cornerstone of my Police and Crime Plan.

“Fighting crime, getting tough on offenders, and protecting Surrey’s most vulnerable residents must be at the heart of the Force’s priorities in the coming years.

“We carried out extensive consultation with residents, community groups, business leaders and victims’ services, as well as hosting 12 in-person and online Policing Your Community events over the autumn and winter.



‘Back to basics’

“I have heard loud and clear what those who live and work in Surrey want to see their policing teams do in our communities and they are making great progress.

“Surrey Police is one of the fastest-improving forces in the country, with 3,500 additional charges across all crime types in 12 months, as well as 2,500 more arrests.

“Charges for some of the crime types that are particularly important to residents, such as child abuse, burglary and retail crime, have dramatically improved.

“It is crucial that this fantastic progress is sustained so we can continue taking the fight to criminals who seek to gain a foothold in our communities.

“Surrey remains a wonderful place in which to live and work, and I am committed to working with the Chief Constable to deliver on the priorities outlined in my Plan.”

Three people stand in a studio. On the left, a man stands with his hands by his sides. Sitting to his left is a young person with his back to the camera. Next, and in the middle of the standing group, is Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, who has her hand on the back of a chair. A woman stands with her hands clasped to Lisa's left hand side.

“It literally saved my life”: Meet the team using music and photography to prevent child exploitation

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has told of her pride after visiting a service that helps criminally exploited children to reshape their lives. 

Lisa Townsend joined staff from Catch22 at their base in Farnham during February to celebrate their work with vulnerable young people. 

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is the sole funder of Catch22’s Music To My Ears programme, which allows clients to explore music production, photography, film-making and writing. 

Over the past four years, almost £400,000 has been committed to the programme through the OPCC. 

Commissioner’s pride

Young people who have been exploited and used by county lines drug dealing operations, have previously gone missing in Surrey, or have been involved in serious violence are among those to attend the service. 

Music To My Ears offers voluntary attendance, meaning clients cannot be compelled to attend. However, many continue to work with the programme for months or years. 

During her visit, Lisa met with a teenager who is now attending a prestigious music college, four years after first coming to the service for support. 

Other clients say Music To My Ears has pulled them out of criminality, with one telling the team: “It has literally saved my life.” 

Currently, Catch22 are working on a one-to-one basis with around 80 young people between the ages of 10 and 18 in Surrey. They are also presenting to Surrey’s magistrates to raise awareness of the programme as an alternative intervention that may prevent criminality altogether. 

“It saved my life”

Lisa said: “We cannot know how many crimes have not been committed because of the team’s intervention, or how many young people have not entered the prison system in the first place through their work. 

“But it is clear the Catch22 team are changing the lives of young people in Surrey. 

“During my visit to Music To My Ears, I met with a young person who has changed his own life with the service’s support, and is now a promising musician at a fantastic college.

“There’s a wonderful future ahead of him because of the support he was able to access through Catch22.

Changing lives

“The programme is completely voluntary – young people create their own care plan, and can stay, or leave, as they wish. 

“This gives them an agency that they may never have felt and empowers them to make choices that can shape their lives. 

“Those who have been groomed or exploited can learn that it is not their fault, that help is out there, and that there are adults who will support them to break free from criminality. 

“I am so proud to fund the programme.” 

For more information, visit catch-22.org.uk 

On left, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, and on right, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend. Both are standing in front of a Christmas tree and wearing red. They are holding up a Christmas card with a hand-drawn snowman picture on the front.

Commissioner and Deputy step into Christmas with festive design by seven-year-old from Reigate

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner and her Deputy have sent out their Christmas cards – which feature a festive illustration drawn by a seven-year-old boy from East Surrey.

Lisa Townsend and Ellie Vesey-Thompson invited children from across the county to submit artwork for their 2024 card.

The winning design was sent in by Felix Taylor, who lives in Reigate. Felix decided to post the Commissioner his drawing after his school shared news of the competition in a weekly parent communication email.

He will enjoy his prize – a family trip to Bocketts Farm – with his brother and sister, five-year-old twins Edith and Oscar.

Mum Jennifer said Felix gets his love of art from his grandad, and the two often spend time drawing together.

It’s the third time Lisa and Ellie have asked young artists to send in their work for the Christmas card, and the first time the competition has been opened to the public.

For the past two years, children supported by services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner were asked to submit their designs.

Last year’s photograph was taken by a young person supported by charity Catch22, which works with those affected by criminal exploitation. The previous year, the wining artwork was sent in by I Choose Freedom, which provides refuge to women and children escaping harm.

Festive cheer

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has a fund of £275,000 specifically for initiatives and organisations that support children and young people in the 2024/25 financial year.

Lisa said: “It is a real privilege to serve everyone living in this wonderful county.

“I’m very proud of the work that is done by my office and our brilliant partners, and I look forward to achieving more for residents in 2025.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who work for Surrey Police for their tireless efforts to keep us all safe, and to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and new year.”

Ellie said: “We both absolutely loved Felix’s festive design, and he was our clear winner.

“On the back of this year’s card, we’ve shared the best ways to contact Surrey Police – so we expect that this card will still be stuck to fridges around the county long into next year!”

A lovely snowman design by Reigate schoolboy Felix, seven, is the winner of this year's Christmas card competition

A lovely snowman design by Reigate schoolboy Felix, seven, is the winner of this year’s Christmas card competition

Poll of 1,500 young people reveals the crime and policing issues that matter most to Surrey’s youth

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Surrey’s young people have spoken on the crime and policing priorities that impact them most as part of a forum funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Safety at night-time, healthy relationships, sexual exploitation, trust in the police and anti-social behaviour are among the key issues for young people living in the county, a poll of around 1,500 people has revealed.

The results were revealed by members of the Surrey Youth Commission at a wide-ranging forum held in Woking in September.

Attendees at the Big Conversation Conference included officers from both Surrey Police and British Transport Police, Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, and representatives from a range of key agencies including local authorities and charities.

Both Ellie and Lisa Townsend, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, chose to fund the Youth Commission in order to help put youth voice at the heart of policing in the county.

Applications to join the third year of the Youth Commission, which is organised and administered by Leaders Unlocked, are now being accepted.

For more information, visit surrey-pcc.gov.uk/funding/surrey-youth-commission

The closing date for applications is November 22.

Ellie, who opened and closed the Big Conversation Conference, said: “Our brilliant Youth Commission members have provided us all an invaluable snapshot into the thoughts and feelings of young people in Surrey.

“Their priorities help us to better understand issues that matter most to them and their peers, from age groups who I know often feel as if their opinions go unheard.

“I want to thank every single Youth Commissioner, as well as everyone who shared their thoughts and priorities.

“They should be incredibly proud of the work they have achieved with their carefully-considered recommendations for policing, for our office, and for all of us working to support children and young people. I am certainly proud of them.

Young people share their priorities for police

“We will soon open applications once again, and I encourage young people who want to help shape the future of policing in Surrey to get in touch.” 

Kaytea Budd-Brophy, Senior Manager at Leaders Unlocked, said: “I am hugely proud of the Surrey Youth Commission members, who have been an amazing group of young people to work with.

“The members have worked tirelessly at the peer-to-peer engagement, reaching out to larger number of young people through the Big Conversation to explore the root causes and tangible solutions to the issues that young people in Surrey tell us they face.“

“We are absolutely delighted and excited to be starting to working with the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, for a third year.”

A report on the latest recommendations from the Youth Commission will be available during the winter.

Members of the Surrey Youth Commission are pictured with Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, in red

Calling all young artists! Commissioner and Deputy launch annual Christmas card competition

Posted on | by Alex Winter

There’s no need to Claus a scene, but Christmas is just under three months away – and Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner needs a new illustrator for her festive cards. 

Children aged 11 and under are invited to put pen, pencil or paintbrush to A4 paper and submit their creative ho-ho-holiday designs by Monday, November 4 2024. 

This year’s theme is ‘the spirit of Christmas’. 

The winner will receive a family ticket to Bocketts Farm in Fetcham. If their design is submitted through their school, the school itself will also receive a £50 Amazon voucher. 

Two runners-up will also be chosen, both of whom will receive 12 Christmas cards printed with their own designs. 

It’s the third time the Commissioner and her Deputy, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, have opened a competition to Surrey’s young people. 

For the past two years, children supported by services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner were asked to submit their designs.  

In 2022, a young girl supported by domestic abuse charity I Choose Freedom was the winner.  

The following year, a young person supported by Catch-22’s Music To My Ears programme submitted the winning image. 

Festive cheer

Ellie, who has responsibility for the office’s focus on children and young people, said: “Receiving these designs from young people in Surrey is a real highlight of the year for the Commissioner and I. We look forward to it for months in advance. 

“I’d really encourage all Surrey residents to share this competition with the children they know. 

“We’re really looking forward to seeing their wonderful work.” 

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has a fund of £275,000 specifically for initiatives and organisations that support children and young people in the 2024/25 financial year.

The Office also commissions the Surrey Youth Commission, which will begin recruiting in the coming weeks. 

“A real highlight”

The Youth Commission allows children and young people to have their say on the crime and policing issues affecting them. 

Lisa said: “I’m delighted to open this competition to all Surrey youngsters aged 11 and under. 

“Receiving the entries each year is a real highlight for Ellie and I, and it starts the festive season with a real bang.” 

Paper pictures sent by post are preferred. Pictures can also be accepted via email, although the original must be supplied if requested by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

The attached form must be filled out and included with each entry. 

Postal entries should be addressed to: The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, 3, The Drive, Sandy Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1HE. 

Email entries should be submitted to ChristmasPCC@Surrey.Police.uk 

You’ll need to include your name and age, as well as the details of a parent or guardian’s name and a contact number or email address so that we can ask for permission to use your design. 

Ellie Vesey-Thompson reappointed as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for another term

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Ellie Vesey-Thompson has been formally reappointed as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Ellie is committed to continuing her work giving young people a voice in policing, putting a renewed focus on policing issues in rural communities, and listening to the views of officers and staff.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend appointed Ellie as her deputy following her first election win in 2021. Ellie will now continue in her role after Lisa was successfully re-elected last month for the next PCC term, which ends in 2028.

Ellie attended a confirmation hearing with Surrey’s Police and Crime Panel on Thursday last week. Members recommended her reappointment.

She has a background in policy, communications and youth engagement, and holds both a degree in Politics and a Graduate Diploma in Law.

Deputy reappointed

“It’s been a huge privilege to serve as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for the past three years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue in role. I am really proud of what we have already achieved since I was first appointed in 2021,” Ellie said.

“We have supported a broad range of organisations and services across Surrey with millions of pounds of funding, including through the dedicated Children and Young People’s Fund introduced by the Commissioner and I.

“This has supported a variety of projects and initiatives, including our innovative teacher training programme to help tackle violence against women and girls from a young age, Safer Streets projects to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in many communities across our county, and projects aimed at diverting young people away from crime and exploitation.

Years of success

“Tackling rural crime, empowering young people, supporting veterans, and listening to frontline officers and staff are the four main pillars of my role in Surrey.

“I was delighted to launch Surrey’s first-ever Youth Commission, which allows young people to have a say on policing in the county. The Youth Commission are now in their second year, and I continue to oversee their work and look forward to hearing their latest set of recommendations in the autumn.

“Engaging with our farmers and other members of our rural communities is incredibly important to me, to help build confidence in policing and encourage better reporting of rural crime.

“Over the last three years, I have met and spent time with many Surrey Police officers and members of staff across a range of different policing teams.

“I will continue to be an advocate”

“I have seen at close quarters the dedication and hard work that goes into keeping our county safe.

“I will continue to be an advocate for the fantastic policing service they provide.”

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Ellie has played a key part in helping me represent the views of the public in how police our county and I am delighted to welcome her formally back to the role of Deputy.

“When I was elected in May, I pledged to focus on my policing priorities on what our residents want to see – our officers doing the job only they can, investigating and solving crime and taking offenders off our streets.

“I believe Ellie is the right person to help me deliver on that promise and we are already working together on drawing up my new Police and Crime Plan for the county.”

Commissioner’s pride in Surrey Police campaign to tackle youth-produced sexual images

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A new campaign is underway across Surrey to target and prevent the harmful behaviours of young people who ask peers for sexual images.

Running as adverts on Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and Meta, ‘Ok To Ask?’ depicts three teenagers giving their response to being pressured, or a friend being pressured, into asking for a nude photograph or being asked for a nude photograph.

Although led by Surrey Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, it was developed alongside the target audience of 13-17-year-olds with in-person and online focus groups, surveys and ‘writers’ rooms’ – making it a campaign by young people, for young people.

The campaign is already gaining traction, with nearly six million impressions across social media platforms, but more importantly, it’s sparking the much-needed conversations on the topic.

Comments include: “This is so refreshing to see”, “People need to see this”, “Most adverts shame girls who may have sent something – this is great as focuses on the person asking” and “We need more mates like Jacob!”.

Temporary Detective Inspector Ellen Mclachlan, who works in Surrey Police’s Online Child Abuse Unit, said: “We chose this subject as the focus of the campaign as it’s one of the most wide-spread, policing issues, affecting the 13-17-year-old age group with considerable risks and something we believe shouldn’t be considered as ‘just part of teenage life’.

“Often, people have a stereotyped view on the perpetrators of online child abuse and it may be a surprise to learn that nearly a third of all sexual images of children found on webpages are in fact youth-produced.

“Youth produced sexual imagery is defined as images or videos generated by children under the age of 18 that are of a sexual nature or are considered to be indecent.

“Within policing, sadly we are all too familiar with the consequences that can stem from this behaviour including sexual bullying and blackmail.

Campaign success

“Working alongside our local and national partner agencies a core aspect of our work is prevention and early intervention to safeguard young people from ever experiencing these types of offences.

“But, while safeguarding is our primary concern, it’s important to know that it’s a crime to take, make, show or possess indecent images of any person below the age of 18, even if the person doing it is a child.

“This means we have a duty to seriously investigate instances of suspected youth produced sexual imagery – ultimately it’s child abuse.”

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said: “The success of this ground-breaking campaign is a reflection of how important it is to listen to our young people and support them in navigating difficult issues.

‘Timely and crucial message’

“Youth produced sexual imagery is happening across society, and the Force’s message – that it’s not ok to ask for sexualised images, regardless of what a young person believes their peers are doing – is timely and crucial.

“I’m delighted that my brilliant Commissioning team were able to secure Home Office funding for this project, and that Surrey Police, working closely with young people from the county, have produced such an insightful campaign.

“By creating more opportunities for young people to speak openly with each other, as well as with their parents, carers and teachers, we hope to support healthier behaviours which stop youth produced sexual imagery being normalised.”

Parents and carers have a crucial role to play in helping young people to navigate the pressures to ask for and send images. There are a number of things you can do to help support them with this topic. Visit our webpage for more information and support.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson with members of the Surrey STEPS programme

Funding boost for alternative learning provision that teaches young people it’s safe to learn again

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A “UNIQUE” alternative learning facility in Woking will teach its students skills that will last a lifetime thanks to funding from Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

STEPS to 16, which is run by the Surrey Care Trust, offers educational support to children aged between 14 and 16 who are struggling with mainstream education.

The curriculum, which focuses on functional learning – including English and maths – as well as vocational skills such as cooking, budgeting and sports, is tailored to individual students.

Youngsters struggling with a range of social, emotional or mental health needs attend up to three days a week before taking their exams at the end of the year.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend recently approved a £4,500 grant that will boost the facility’s life skills lessons for a year.

Funding boost

The funding will enable students to develop their critical thinking skills, which teachers hope will support healthy life choices and good decision making when it comes to issues such as drugs, gang crime and poor driving.

Last week, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who leads the Commissioner’s work on provision for children and young people, made a visit to the facility.

During a tour, Ellie met with students, joined a life skills lesson, and discussed funding with programme manager Richard Tweddle.

She said: “Supporting Surrey’s children and young people is vitally important to the Commissioner and I.

“STEPS to 16 ensures that students who are finding it difficult to continue with traditional education can still learn in a safe setting.

“Unique” facility

“I saw first hand that the work done by STEPS helps students rebuild their confidence when it comes to learning, and helps set them up for the future.

“I was particularly impressed with the approach STEPS takes to help support all of their students through exams to ensure that the challenges they have faced within mainstream education do not prohibit them from achieving the qualifications they need for future success.

“Young people who don’t consistently attend school may well be more vulnerable to criminals, including the predatory county lines gangs which exploit children into dealing drugs.

“It is important that we recognise that mainstream schools may be too overwhelming or challenging for some students, and that alternative provisions that help keep these students safe and enable them to continue learning are key to their success and wellbeing.

“Good choices”

“The funding provided for life skills lessons will encourage these students to make good choices around friendships and inspire healthier behaviours that I hope will last for the rest of their lives.”

Richard said: “Our aim has always been to create a place where children want to come because they feel safe.

“We want these students to go onto further education or, if they choose, into a workplace, but that can’t happen unless they feel safe to risk learning again.

“STEPS is a unique place. There’s a sense of belonging that we encourage through trips, workshops and sports activities. 

“We want to ensure that every young person who comes through the door reaches their full potential, even if traditional education hasn’t worked for them.”

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner also funds enhanced Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) training for teachers in Surrey to support the county’s young people, as well as the Surrey Youth Commission, which puts youth voice at the heart of policing.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson with a design student

Camberley student lands dream job after leading rebrand of our Office

Posted on | by James Smith

IN 2022, local graphic design student Jack Dunlop won a competition launched by Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Ellie Vesey-Thompson, winning a work placement with leading designers Akiko Design.

During a week-long internship in Bramley, Jack developed the concept that was used to create our new branding, and continues to boost awareness of the key role that the Commissioner and our team play in representing the voice of local people on policing.

Akiko were so impressed with Jack’s work that he has now become the latest addition to their team, following the completion of his studies at the University for Creative Arts in Farnham.

Providing more opportunities for children and young people is a key part of Ellie‘s focus in Surrey, which includes dedicated funding for services that help young people to stay safe and thrive.

During the placement, she worked closely with Jack to develop and present his ideas to our team.

Ellie said: “I couldn’t be prouder that Jack’s experience through our office has helped him to hit the ground running in a really exciting career.

“I was incredibly impressed with Jack’s creativity, enthusiasm, and the diligence and commitment he brought to the redesign of our brand. I hope that he will take immense pride in knowing that his vision and branding plays an important and visible role in the work that we carry out with Surrey Police and partners right across the county.

“We are very proud of our new look thanks to Jack’s hard work alongside Akiko.”

Since starting with Akiko in December, Jack has been working on several projects, from improving the design of an existing client’s website to image preparation for a large website set to launch this January.  Jack is also going to be heavily involved in the work on a new website Akiko has recently won the contract for.

He said: “During the second year of my graphic design degree, I won a competition to design the new logo for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, from which arose the opportunity to have a week’s work experience at Akiko.

“A year later, I am a full time designer with them! Woohoo!”

Craig Denford, Creative Director at Akiko Design, directly supported Jack during his time with Akiko.

He said: “When Jack came in for the week placement last year I was really impressed by his ability and his work ethic. Having seen his college portfolio he clearly has a lot of talent, which I would always place above experience/qualifications. Since joining he’s been very quick to learn the packages needed and I already feel I can trust him to do a good job with larger projects. He’ll be an invaluable member of the team I’m sure.”

Read about Jack’s experience, or learn more about our funding for local services.