Category: Children and young people

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.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson centre stands with Surrey Youth Commission members at the first ever Big Conversation Conference

Applications for youth forum open after first members flag mental health and substance misuse as priorities for police

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A FORUM that allows young people in Surrey to have their say on the crime and policing issues that affect them most is recruiting new members.

The Surrey Youth Commission, now in its second year, is opening applications to people aged between 14 and 25.

The project is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey and overseen by Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson.

New Youth Commissioners will have an opportunity to shape the future of crime prevention in the county by creating a series of priorities for both Surrey Police and the Commissioner’s office.

New Youth Commissioners will have an opportunity to shape the future of crime prevention in the county by creating a series of priorities for both Surrey Police and the Commissioner’s office. They will consult with peers and meet with senior police officers before presenting their recommendations at a public ‘Big Conversation’ conference in September next year.

Last year, Youth Commissioners asked more than 1,400 young people for their opinions ahead of the conference.

Applications open

Ellie, who has responsibility for children and young people in her remit, said: “I’m so proud to announce that the fantastic work done by our first-ever Surrey Youth Commission will continue into 2023/24, and I look forward to welcoming the new cohort in early November.

“Members of the initial Youth Commission achieved true excellence with their carefully-considered recommendations, many of which intersected with those already identified by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend.

“Reducing violence against women and girls, further education around mental health and substance misuse, and strengthening the relationships between communities and police are among the big priorities for our young people.

“We will continue to work towards addressing each of these issues, as well as those chosen by the Youth Commissioners who will join us in the weeks to come.

“Fantastic work”

“Lisa and I decided two years ago that a forum was needed to amplify the voices of young people in this county in an effort to shape the future of policing.

“In order to achieve this, we commissioned experts at Leaders Unlocked to put youth voice at the heart of what we do.

“The results of that work have been illuminating and insightful, and I’m thrilled to extend the programme for a second year.”

Click the button for more information, or to apply:

Apply now

Applications must be submitted by October 27.

The Deputy Commissioner has signed a pledge to act on the Surrey Youth Commission’s recommendations

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson centre stands with Surrey Youth Commission members at the first ever Big Conversation Conference

Deputy Commissioner launches first-ever Surrey Youth Commission conference as members give their priorities for policing

Posted on | by Alex Winter

YOUNG people from Surrey have revealed the policing and community safety issues that have the biggest impact on them at a county-wide conference.

The Surrey Youth Commission, which is fully-funded by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), will help shape the future of crime prevention in the county, and its members have developed a list of priorities for both the Force and the OPCC.

These include substance misuse, violence against women and girls, and cybercrime. Youth commissioners presented their findings at their Big Conversation Conference, which took place in Woking last week.

Since early January, members aged between 14 and 25 have consulted with more than 1,600 of their peers to learn more about the issues affecting young people.

During the conference, they told an audience, which included Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson and Surrey Police Assistant Chief Constable Ali Barlow, that more must be done to educate young people on county lines drug dealing, sexual consent and being safe online.

Ellie, who has responsibility for children and young people in her remit and launched the Youth Commission last year, said the priorities identified “represent an opportunity for us all to learn and grow”.

She said: “The thoughtful, insightful findings by the Youth Commission allow us to look at the issues that acutely impact Surrey’s young people and really matter to them.

“Some of the priorities chosen by our youth commissioners intersect with those already identified by the Commissioner, including reducing violence against women and girls, mental health, and improving relationships between residents and police.

“However, I was particularly struck by the presentation on substance misuse, which was shockingly described as ‘highly normalised’ amongst our young people.

“I want to reassure our youth commissioners that all that of their hard work over the past few months will not be in vain.

‘Thoughtful and insightful’

“Myself and the Commissioner decided last year that a forum was needed to amplify the voices of young people in this county in an effort to shape the future of policing.

“As a result, we commissioned the services of experts at Leaders Unlocked with the specific aim of putting youth voice right into the heart of what our office and Surrey Police do.

“The youth commissioners have provided a deeply insightful and illuminating set of priorities for us all to work towards, and I am incredibly proud of each of them for representing the opinions of young people in Surrey.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson signed a pledge to act on the Surrey Youth Commission’s recommendations

“Their dedication and generosity in bringing their own experiences to the room proves to me that we should feel enormously positive about the generation of young people who are beginning to make their mark on the world.”

Emily Blavins, project manager for Leaders Unlocked, said: “We are immensely proud of the young people we’ve worked with over the past months.

“The Youth Commission members have conducted really significant research with their peers and have acted as a voice for all young people in Surrey.

“The findings and recommendations for change put forward by the Youth Commission will improve crime and policing for many.”

  • A report authored by the youth commissioners on their findings will be available to read within the coming weeks.

Ellie has told of her pride at the work achieved by the Youth Commissioners

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson standing next to the sign for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, with the new young Crimestoppers Fearless worker Ryan Hines.

Deputy Commissioner welcomes new fully-funded Fearless worker dedicated to teaching young people that “criminality isn’t glamorous”

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A YOUTH worker whose role is fully-funded thanks to Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner says he wants charity Fearless to become a household name.

Ryan Hines works to educate young people about the consequences of their choices on behalf of Fearless, the youth arm of Crimestoppers.

As part of his role, Ryan offers non-judgemental advice on how to give information about crime 100 per cent anonymously by using a secure online form on the charity’s website Fearless.org, or by calling 0800 555 111.

He also visits schools, pupil referral units, colleges, universities and youth clubs to deliver workshops that show young people how crime can affect them, either as a victim or as a perpetrator, attends community events, and builds partnerships with youth-focused organisations.

Ryan Hines works to educate young people about the consequences of their choices on behalf of Fearless, the youth arm of Crimestoppers

Ryan’s role is funded through the Commissioner’s Community Safety Fund, which supports a range of projects across Surrey.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson met with Ryan at Surrey Police’s Guildford HQ last week.

She said: “Fearless is a fantastic service that reaches thousands of young people across the county.

“The role recently taken on by Ryan helps to empower our young people to make their communities safer.

“Ryan is able to tailor his message based on the most impactful crime in any given area, whether that’s county lines exploitation, anti-social behaviour, car theft, or another type of offending.

‘Ryan helps to empower our young people’

“This allows Ryan to speak to young people in a way that makes it directly relevant to the issues that impact their lives.

“We know that the idea of talking to the police directly can be challenging for young people, particularly if they’re already involved in criminal activity. For those people, Fearless is invaluable, and I’d like to reiterate the hugely important message that information can be given entirely anonymously.

“Fearless also helps to inform young people about crime, encourages them to talk honestly, and provides honest information about criminal activity and its consequences.”

Ryan said: “My ultimate aim is to ensure Fearless becomes a buzzword for young people.

“I want it to be part of everyday conversations in the way that my own peer group discussed Childline.

‘Buzzword’ mission

“Our message is simple, but it’s crucial. Young people can be very reluctant to contact the police, so the education Fearless can provide is critical. The charity offers an 100 per cent guarantee that all information given will remain anonymous, and our charity is independent of the police.

“We want to give all young people a voice and debunk myths that a criminal lifestyle is anything to glamorise.

“Many of those who are exploited don’t realise they’re victims until it’s too late. Giving them the information they need as early as possible is key to prevent this happening.”

For more information on the work Ryan is doing in Surrey, or to arrange a Fearless training session, visit crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless/professionals/outreach-sessions

Ellie has responsibility for children and young people in her remit

Six year old child's line drawing in blue pen of a police officer on white background.

“Why don’t the police wear shorts?” – Commissioner responds to letters from children aged five and six

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has responded after receiving letters from Surrey residents aged just five and six years old.

Ethan from Guildford, who is five years old, wants to be a police officer when he is older – but felt that he needed to ask an important question before applying. In a letter to the Commissioner, he enquired: “Why do the police not wear shorts?”

In a separate letter, Grace, who lives near Leith Hill, sent a picture she had drawn of a police officer. Grace’s Grandparents say she will make an excellent police officer for her village.

Ethan was concerned that police officers don’t wear shorts.

Grace’s grandparents said she would make an excellent police officer.

Replying to Ethan, the Commissioner said:

I am so pleased to read that you would like to be a police officer when you are older – it is a very important job and we are always looking for smart new recruits.

You asked a question about why police officers don’t wear shorts. It is because they often have to kneel down to help someone, or even run after a criminal through a field where they may be stung by nettles and other spiky plants so they need to keep their legs covered.

Surrey Police wear trousers that have lots of pockets where they can put their gloves, or a torch and their phones, which need to be easy to get in a hurry.

Making sure that all police officers wear the same uniform is also important as it makes them look smart and so that you can recognise them if you need help.

Our office has received over 800 letters, emails and telephone calls from members of the public since the start of this year.

Representing your voice is a key part of the Commissioner’s role in Surrey, that includes strengthening the relationships between residents and Surrey Police and independently reviewing the response to complaints about policing.

Contact the Commissioner using our Contact us page.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson next to football pitch

“It has the power to change the lives of young people”: Deputy Commissioner launches new Premier League Kicks programme in Surrey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A PREMIER League programme that uses the power of football to draw young people away from crime has expanded into Surrey thanks to a grant from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Chelsea Foundation has brought flagship initiative Premier League Kicks to the county for the first time.

The scheme, which supports people aged between eight and 18 from disadvantaged backgrounds, already operates at 700 venues across the UK. More than 175,000 young people engaged in the programme between 2019 and 2022.

Young attendees are offered sports, coaching, music and educational and personal development sessions. Local authorities in areas where the programme is delivered have reported significant reductions in anti-social behaviour.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson and two Surrey Police Youth Engagement Officers joined representatives from Chelsea FC in Cobham to launch the programme last week.

Youngsters from three youth clubs, including the MYTI Club in Tadworth, enjoyed a series of matches during the evening.

Ellie said: “I believe Premier League Kicks has the power to change the lives of young people and wider communities in our county.

“The scheme has already had huge success around the country at diverting children and teenagers from anti-social behaviour. Coaches encourage attendees of all abilities and backgrounds to focus on their personal achievements and successes, which is key to developing resilience in young people that will help them better manage challenges that might arise throughout their lives.

‘The power to change lives’

“Engagement in the Kicks sessions also gives young people additional routes into education, training and employment, alongside having fun playing football.

“I think it’s brilliant that volunteering is also a key part of the programme, helping young people feel more invested in and connected to their communities and linking them with some of the most vulnerable in society.

“I am so pleased we’ve been able to support the Chelsea Football Club Foundation in bringing this initiative to our county, and am grateful to them and Active Surrey for their work in getting the first sessions up and running across Surrey.”

Young people who join Premier League Kicks will meet in the evenings after school and during some school holidays. Open access, disability-inclusive and female-only sessions are included, as well as tournaments, workshops and social action.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson at the launch of Premier League Kicks in Surrey

Ellie said: “Protecting people from harm, strengthening relationships between Surrey Police and the county’s residents and working with communities so they feel safe are key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan.

“I believe this brilliant programme will help meet every one of those objectives by inspiring young people to achieve their potential and building safer, stronger and more inclusive communities.”

Tony Rodriguez, Youth Inclusion Officer at Chelsea Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have joined forces with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to begin offering our successful Premier League Kicks programme within Surrey and it was great to launch this initiative with a fantastic event at Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham.

“The power of football is unique in its ability to positively affect society, it can prevent crime and antisocial behaviour by offering opportunities to all, and we look forward to developing this programme further in the near future.”

Surrey Police Youth Engagement Officers Neil Ware, left, and Phil Jebb, right, speak to young attendees