Children and young people Archives - Page 5 of 5 - Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Surrey

Surrey Police & Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has formally appointed Ellie Vesey-Thompson as her Deputy PCC.

Ellie, who will be the youngest Deputy PCC in the country, will focus on engaging with young people and supporting the PCC on other key priorities informed by Surrey residents and police partners.

She shares PCC Lisa Townsend’s passion to do more to reduce violence against women and girls and ensure the support for all victims of crime is the best it can be.

Ellie has a background in policy, communications and youth engagement, and has worked in both public and private sector roles. Having joined the UK Youth Parliament in her early teens, she is experienced in voicing concerns for young people, and representing others at all levels. Ellie has a degree in Politics and a Graduate Diploma in Law. She has previously worked for the National Citizen Service and her most recent role was in digital design and communications.

The new appointment comes as Lisa, the first female PCC in Surrey, focuses on implementing the vision she outlined during the recent PCC election.

PCC Lisa Townsend said: “Surrey has not had a Deputy PCC since 2016. I have a very broad agenda and Ellie has already been heavily involved across the county.

“We have a lot of important work ahead. I stood on a commitment to make Surrey safer and put local people’s views at the heart of my policing priorities. I was given a clear mandate to do that by the residents of Surrey. I am delighted to bring Ellie on board to help deliver those promises.”

As part of the appointment process, the PCC and Ellie Vesey-Thompson attended a Confirmation Hearing with the Police & Crime Panel where Members were able to ask questions about the candidate and her future work.

Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner to help drive fresh impact

The Panel has subsequently made a recommendation to the PCC that Ellie is not appointed to the role. On this point, PCC Lisa Townsend said: “I note with genuine disappointment the recommendation of the Panel. Whilst I do not agree with this conclusion, I have carefully considered the points raised by Members.”

The PCC has provided a written response to the Panel and has reaffirmed her confidence in Ellie to undertake this role.

Lisa said: “Engaging with young people is hugely important and was a key part of my manifesto. Ellie will bring her own experience and perspective to the role.

“I promised to be highly visible and in the coming weeks I will be out and about with Ellie engaging directly with residents on the Police and Crime Plan.”

Deputy PCC Ellie Vesey-Thompson said she was delighted to officially take up the role: “I’ve been hugely impressed by the work the Surrey PCC team is already doing to support Surrey Police and partners.

“I am particularly keen to enhance this work with young people in our county, with both those affected by crime, and with individuals who are already involved, or at risk of becoming involved, in the criminal justice system.”

The independent charity Crimestoppers youth service ‘Fearless.org’ will continue in Surrey for at least another three years after Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro agreed to extend the funding for its dedicated outreach worker.

Fearless.org offers young people non-judgemental advice so they can make informed decisions about reporting crime and allows them to give information 100% anonymously, using a secure form on the charity’s website.

The Fearless outreach worker Emily Drew actively engages with young people across Surrey and provides education about the consequences of their choices around crime.

That message is reinforced through campaigns that encourage safe and anonymous reporting of issues such as knife and drug crime and those involved with County Lines – including speaking up about those who regularly carry weapons.

Since its launch in Surrey in 2018, Emily has spoken to over 7,000 local young people and provided training for over 1,000 professionals including GPs, social workers and teachers.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, she has been carrying out online Fearless.org education sessions, which have been attended by more than 500 people from across the county.

There has also been a big focus on reaching young people through social media with a recent campaign focused on spotting the warning signs of exploitation from drug gangs.

PCC David Munro has agreed to continue funding Emily’s Fearless role through a grant from his Community Safety Fund, which helps projects large and small improve community safety across the county.

He said: “For our young people in particular, the last year has been an extremely testing period with disruption to their schooling and exams at such an important stage in their lives.

“Sadly there will be criminals trying to exploit the situation and target our young people during these uncertain times.”

Fearless for three more years! – PCC extends funding for Crimestoppers youth service in Surrey

“Violent crime and the threats posed by ‘County Lines’ gangs recruiting teenagers to become part of their drug supply operation, are very real issues that police here in Surrey are tackling right now.

“The role Emily is doing through Fearless is invaluable in helping empower our young people to make their communities safer, which is why I was delighted to extend the funding so she can continue the important work she is doing across the county over the next three years.”

Surrey’s Fearless Outreach Worker Emily Drew, said: “Since launching Fearless.org in Surrey two years ago, we have been reaching out to thousands of young people and professionals across the county to spread the Fearless message.

“The response has been amazing but we want to go even further so I’m delighted this funding will enable us to continue the work we’ve started over the next three years.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has presented us with a number of challenges but now that children are back in school, we will be looking to provide more of those inputs direct into the classroom. If any schools or organisations in Surrey would like a free session, then please get in touch!”

Chair of Surrey Crimestoppers Lynne Hack, said: “Young people can often understandably be very reluctant to report crime, so the education Fearless can provide to them is really critical to us, particularly during these difficult times.

“Emily as a youth worker is completely non-judgemental and can spread the message that young people can speak up about crime to us with the 100% guarantee that it will be completely anonymous and no one will know they have contacted us.”

If your organisation works with young children and you would like to arrange a Fearless training session, or you want to learn more about the work that Emily is doing in Surrey – please visit www.fearless.org/campaigns/fearless-surrey