Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, and Surrey Police’s Chief Constable, Tim De Meyer, are today asking members of the business community to have their say on the impact of retail crime.
It is recognised that retail crime has a significant impact in Surrey, and both the Commissioner and the Chief Constable are determined to deal with offenders robustly and listen closely to concerns.
While every effort has been made to share the survey with as many people as possible, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has urged recipients to share the link within their networks to allow us to hear from anyone who would like to respond.
Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: “Retail crime is far from a ‘victimless crime’. It leads to fear and loss across a whole network from business owners to employees and customers – who are all part of a community we are here to protect.
“We are committed to tackling retail crime head on, relentlessly pursuing those who steal from shops. To do so, we rely on thefts being reported so that we can identify hotspots and trends, act swiftly, and prevent crime from happening and catch the offenders where it does occur.
“Pursuing all appropriate avenues to identify offenders, collect evidence, recover stolen property, ensure witnesses are located and interviewed, and get these crimes to court, is a priority for our officers.
“Work continues to deal robustly with offenders of retail crime. We have made great strides in this area, but there is more to do. With your help, I am sure that we can improve even more.”
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said: “Retail crime can impact entire communities.
“As well as the economic, emotional and sometimes physical harm caused, this criminality can make those who live and work in Surrey feel less safe.
“Reports of retail crime are rising, not only in Surrey, but around the country. However, we are pleased to say that arrests, convictions and out-of-court interventions for retail crime are improving.
“There is more work to do and I urge Surrey’s business community to share their thoughts in our survey.”
Hundreds of Surrey residents have had their say on the issues that affect them most as the Policing Your Community roadshow returned during the autumn and winter.
The events, which took place in each of the county’s 11 boroughs, as well as online, gave audiences the opportunity to share their thoughts about crime and policing where they live.
The series kicked off in Guildford borough in late September, and concluded with an online meeting on January 13. Around 100 people attended the virtual event, where questions ranging from CCTV use in Guildford and Cobham to delays to court cases were asked.
During the meetings, hosted by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, Surrey Police Chief Constable Tim De Meyer, and each of the Borough Commanders, a number of common concerns emerged.
The Commissioner will shortly launch her Police and Crime Plan, created with the input of residents, community groups, businesses and victims’ services across Surrey.
The Plan, which provides a blueprint for policing priorities in the county until 2028, will reflect the concerns raised by communities.
Lisa is also currently asking residents what they’d be prepared to pay to support policing in Surrey. You can have your say HERE.
Surrey Police is dedicated to tackling crime. In the past 12 months, the force has more than doubled its charge rate, with an additional 3,500 offences prosecuted.
An additional 2,500 arrests have been made, and both burglary and assault with injury charges have increased by 90 per cent, while shoplifting offences have increased four-fold, with 876 more offences charged across the country.
“The Policing Your Community events allowed both myself and the Chief Constable to hear what people are most concerned about where they live, and to answer any questions they may have.
‘Taking the fight to criminals’
“My upcoming Police and Crime Plan, which sets the priorities for police in Surrey, will reflect some of the issues we have heard during the roadshow.
“The Chief’s own plan, which is designed to take the fight to criminals by relentlessly pursuing the most prolific offenders, tackling pockets of lawlessness, and driving drug dealers and shoplifting gangs out of the county, is working.
“Surrey Police is one of the fastest-improving forces in the country, and our officers and staff are more determined than ever to make this county a hostile place for criminality.
“In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about my plans for the coming years, and I’ll be highlighting some of the fantastic work that goes on day in, day out by our hard-working teams.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is asking Surrey residents whether they would be prepared to pay a little extra to support the county’s “fastest-improving” police service over the coming year.
In the last 12 months, Surrey Police has more than DOUBLED its charge rate, with an additional 3,500 offences being prosecuted. It has also made over 2,500 more arrests and made dramatic improvements in tackling offences important to residents such as burglary, shoplifting, child abuse and rape.
The Commissioner says this has made Surrey Police one of the fastest-improving forces in the country.
But in order to maintain this momentum, protect victims and continue to make our communities even safer, Lisa says Surrey Police desperately need funding to ensure that hard work isn’t undone.
Those who live in Surrey are being invited to fill in a brief survey on whether they would support an increase of a little over £1 extra a month on an average council tax bill for 2025/26.
One of the Commissioner’s key responsibilities is to set the overall budget for Surrey Police. That includes determining the level of council tax raised for policing in the county, known as the precept, which funds the Force together with a grant from central government.
In December, the Government announced their policing settlement for the next financial year which stated that Police and Crime Commissioners are allowed to request an additional £14 per Band D property.
This equates to little over £1.16 a month on an average household, or 4.3 per cent across all council tax bands.
Every pound of precept amounts to an extra half-a-million pounds in the policing budget.
The Commissioner said that the contributions the Surrey public make through their council tax contributions are “absolutely vital” and have been paying dividends over the last 12 months.
Burglary and assault with injury charges have both increased by 90 per cent, while shoplifting charges have increased four-fold with 876 more offences charged across the county.
There have been 20 per cent more arrests year-on-year, with an average of 50 more per week, while the number of outstanding suspects has reduced by a third.
‘Impressive’
Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend said: “When I set the police budget last year, I pledged that Surrey residents’ council tax contributions would be focused on what policing does best – fighting crime in our local communities, getting tough on offenders and protecting people.
“The progress we have seen over the last 12 months has been really impressive. The charge rate has been doubled and huge strides have been made in tackling those crimes important to our residents such as burglary, shoplifting and violence against women and girls
“The Chief Constable’s plan is working, and Surrey Police is one of the fastest improving forces in the country. But there is still more to do.
“During our recent Policing Your Community roadshow, residents told me loud and clear how they value that visible local policing presence in their communities and getting a swift and effective police response when they need it.
Survey launches
“I want to ensure our local policing teams are properly funded so we can continue to improve that service to our communities.
“While it is great news that Surrey Police are arresting more criminals, and long may that continue, delays in the criminal justice system mean that victims are waiting longer for those cases to come to court.
“These can be some of the most vulnerable people in our society and it is really important that we properly support them through this difficult process. I want to ensure we invest in those fantastic services in the county that provide truly life-changing support to those victims of crime in Surrey.
“In order to achieve this and maintain the success of the last year, I need to make sure our police teams have the right resources in the face of some difficult financial challenges.
Have your say
“The reality is that the government settlement this year will not cover the increased costs we continue to face in Surrey, and we must make up a shortfall in both the police officers’ pay increase and the rise in employers National Insurance.
“The Force is making every effort to find efficiencies across the board to ensure we provide the very best value for money for our residents. But they still must find in the region of £18m in savings over the next four years.
“That is why I must balance the burden on the public with ensuring I give the Chief Constable the tools to keep the Force’s head above water and continue to take the fight to criminals in our county.
“Any gap in funding will mean further savings having to be made, including cuts to the workforce. The Force may have no choice but to reduce some of the services which the public value the most – such as taking calls, investigating crimes and detaining suspects.
Force improvements
“Our policing teams do a fantastic job keeping our communities safe. I want Surrey Police to build on the brilliant progress they have made over the last year and continue to tackle those issues that are priorities for you.
“It is important to me to find out what Surrey residents think and whether they would be willing to pay a little extra to support our policing teams again this year.
“So I would ask everyone to take a minute to fill out our brief survey and give me their views.”
The council tax survey will close at midnight on 1 February 2025. For more information, visit this link.
You can also read an open letter from the Commissioner here, and find frequently asked questions here.
What crimes do you think police should be tackling where you live? Now is the chance to have your say!
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is urging Surrey residents to fill in a brief survey that will help shape policing in the county for the next three years.
You can select what issues you want to see Surrey Police focus on as part of the consultation for her new Police and Crime Plan which is currently underway.
Your answers will help the Commissioner draw up her Plan, which will launch early next year and provide the blueprint for policing in the county until 2028.
Have your say
But you will need to be quick – the survey, which launched in October, will close on December 12 2024. It is anonymous, only takes a few minutes to complete, and can be filled in here:
It will be published in early 2025 and will cover her current term of office, which runs until 2028.
Lisa was re-elected for a second term of office in May this year and has pledged to ensure Surrey Police implement a ‘back-to-basics’ approach to policing in the county.
‘Back to basics’
She said: “My mission is clear – I want Surrey Police to focus on tackling those crimes that blight our local communities and to target persistent offenders and take them off our streets.
“Over the autumn months, our Policing Your Community roadshow has been visiting every borough in the county where hundreds of residents have been giving us their views on policing where they live.
“I know there are issues that consistently cause concern such as anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, drug crime, the safety of women and girls and visible policing in our communities.
“But I want to hear from more of you about what is happening where you live and what you want to see your police teams focus on in the future.
“We have a good response so far to the survey and I want to thank all those who have already filled it in.
“But it is really important to me to hear from as many people as possible so if you haven’t done so already – please do take a few minutes to let me know what you think.
More are being charged
“Surrey Police is making great strides in tackling crime across the county with another 3,500 more charges over the last year, which is great news for our residents.
“I want to sustain that progress, but there are financial challenges ahead and some tough choices will have to be made on where we focus our resources.
“That is why I want to concentrate on what the Surrey public tell me is important to them and create a Police and Crime Plan that helps delivers a policing service they can be proud of.”
Stories of the heroism of Surrey police officers who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars have been told in a series of Remembrance services.
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend attended a poignant service at Guildford Cathedral on Remembrance Sunday, before giving a reading at the Force’s Mount Browne HQ on Armistice Day.
During her visit, Ellie visited the grave of Henry Bullen.
Henry served as a Police Constable with Surrey Constabulary. A former Grenadier Guard, he was recalled during the First World War, and on October 26 1914 was killed in action – the first member of the Force to die in the conflict.
We will remember them
Ellie also joined the Ypres Poppy Parade and Remembrance Ceremony, which concluded with a service at the Menin Gate.
She said: “I first visited the Menin Gate as a child, and remember being completely blown away by the significance and scale of the memorial and the sacrifices that were made during the First World War.
“This is a feeling which I still felt as an adult.
“Being able to lay a wreath there on Remembrance Day and pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to have freedoms we enjoy today was a huge honour, and an experience I won’t forget.”
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson marked Remembrance in Ypres, Belgium
Following that, Ellie joined representatives from the British Embassy and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a second ceremony at Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world.
In total, 111,961 service personnel are buried or commemorated at the site.
Before leaving Ypres, Ellie participated in the Last Post service, which takes place every day at the Menin Gate.
She said: “I have been lucky enough to witness the Last Post twice before.
“However, playing a part in the ceremony on Remembrance Day was an incredible, humbling, and deeply moving experience.”
Ellie travelled to Belgium with the Ceremonial Association of Surrey Police
Meanwhile, at Surrey Police headquarters, Lisa and her team joined the annual service held on the Chief’s lawn.
A speech was given about the life of Captain Owen Allard, a Surrey Constabulary officer who returned to policing after the Second World War.
Cpt Allard served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who fought in the Normandy campaign.
Lisa said: “It is always an immense privilege to join Remembrance events and learn more about those who gave their lives to allow future generations to live in more peaceful times.”
The Commissioner also joined a service at Guildford Cathedral
Those who live and work in Surrey are being invited to have their say on what they think the policing priorities should be by filling in a brief survey.
It only takes a few minutes to complete and can be filled in here:
The survey will remain open until December 12 2024.
Have your say
The answers will help the Commissioner complete her Plan, which will be a blueprint for policing in Surrey for the next three years and provides the basis for how she holds the Chief Constable to account.
It will be published in early 2025 and will cover her current term of office, which runs until 2028.
The development of the Plan is already underway, with the Commissioner’s office holding a series of in-depth consultation events over the last two months.
This has included speaking to a number of key groups in Surrey such as victim and survivor groups, young people, professionals in crime reduction and safety, rural crime groups and representatives from Surrey’s business community.
The Commissioner now wants to seek the views of the wider Surrey public on what they want to see in the Plan.
“It is my job to ensure your views on policing in Surrey are heard and that is why I now ask for your help in creating my new Police and Crime Plan.
“I want to make sure the public’s priorities for policing are my priorities too. This is why I want as many people as possible to fill out the survey and let me know your views.
“Over the last four years, I have spoken with thousands of residents across our county and I know there are issues that consistently cause concern such as road safety, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, drug crime, the safety of women and girls and visible policing in our communities.
‘The public’s priorities are my priorities’
“When I was re-elected in May, I pledged to focus on a ‘back-to-basics’ approach to policing in Surrey which focuses on tackling those crimes that blight our communities and targeting persistent offenders.
“This is a commitment I share with our Chief Constable Tim De Meyer, and I believe this approach is already starting to pay dividends.
“However, the road ahead is not easy and there are challenges that Surrey Police must face in the coming years.
“There are significant financial savings that must be made, an ever-increasing demand on our policing teams and retaining our officers and staff in a tough job market.
Back to basics
“It is crucial that our resources are targeted where they are most needed, and Surrey Police finds the right balance between visible community policing and the need to combat that hidden criminality happening behind closed doors.
“I want my Police and Crime Plan to reflect a wide a range of views from people in every borough in Surrey on those issues that are important to them where they live.
“With that in mind, I ask you all to fill out my survey and let me know what you want to see in my plan. The consultation only takes just a few minutes so please do fill it in and let me know what you think.”
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Surrey residents will be given the chance to have their say on the crime and policing issues that affect their community when a series of public engagement events returns this month.
Surrey Police’s Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend will launch the Policing Your Community roadshow in Guildford on Monday, September 23.
Events will take place in all 11 boroughs in the county during the autumn and winter before a final meeting takes place online in January.
The Commissioner and the Chief Constable will be joined at each event by the Borough Commander responsible for that area’s local policing.
Lisa is also preparing to launch the public consultation for her Police and Crime Plan, which will help shape the future of policing in Surrey. The Plan will inform the priorities for Surrey Police for the next four years. Current priorities include making Surrey’s roads safer and tackling violence against women and girls.
The in-person events will run from 6.30pm-8pm, while the online event will run between 6pm and 7.30pm. All are free to attend, but those who wish to join are urged to register their attendance by selecting the link for their local event below:
Lisa, who was re-elected by Surrey residents earlier this year, said: “I’m delighted to announce the return of the Policing Your Community events, which offer residents the opportunity to learn more about what our policing teams are doing to tackle crime where they live.
“Last year, hundreds of residents joined us to ask questions and discuss the issues that concern them most.
“Anti-social behaviour, police visibility and road safety were among the most frequent topics raised, and both the Force and my team are tackling your concerns.
“Listening to the views of local people is at the heart of my role, and strengthening the relationships between Surrey Police and residents is a key priority.
Listening to Surrey residents
“The Force is now the biggest it has been in a generation, with more officers on the ground than ever before, and we want to continue to boost the service that residents receive.”
Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: “Surrey Police is determined to fight crime and protect people, to be there when we are needed and to earn public trust.
“These events enable me to listen to the people of Surrey and understand if we are achieving what we aim to do. It was a pleasure to meet so many people last year and learn about the concerns relating to crime and policing in their neighbourhoods.
“The feedback we received is reflected in the local policing plans which address the things that matter most in our communities.
“I am really looking forward to joining the Police & Crime Commissioner on these visits to listen and talk to people in the areas where they live and work.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has hailed the dramatic improvement in how long it takes Surrey Police to answer calls for help after new figures revealed that current waiting times are the lowest on record.
The Commissioner said that in the last five months, Surrey Police has seen sustained progress in how quickly callers to the 999 and non-emergency 101 numbers are able to speak to contact centre staff.
The latest data shows that, as of this February, 97.8 per cent of 999 calls were answered within the national target of 10 seconds. This compares to only 54% in March last year, and is the highest data on Force record.
Meanwhile, the average time in February that it took Surrey Police to answer calls to the non-emergency 101 number fell to 36 seconds, the lowest wait times on Force record. This compares to 715 seconds in March 2023.
The figures have this week been verified by Surrey Police. In January 2024, the Force answered almost 93 per cent of 999 calls within ten seconds, BT has verified.
In January 2024, the Force answered almost 93 per cent of 999 calls within ten seconds. The February figures have been confirmed by the Force, and awaiting verification from call provider BT.
Inspectors visited Surrey Police during the summer as part of their Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) review. They rated the Force’s performance in responding to the public as ‘inadequate’ and said improvements were needed.
The Commissioner and the Chief Constable also heard residents’ experiences of contacting Surrey Police during the recent ‘Policing Your Community’ roadshow where in-person and online events were held in all 11 boroughs across the county.
Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I know from speaking to residents that being able to get hold of Surrey Police when you need them is absolutely vital.
Lowest wait times on record
“Unfortunately there were times last year when residents calling 999 and 101 were not always getting the service they deserved and this was a situation that urgently needed to be addressed.
“I know how frustrating it has been for some people trying to get through, particularly to the non-emergency 101 during busy times.
“I have spent a lot of time in our contact centre seeing how our call handlers deal with the varied and often challenging calls they receive and they do a phenomenal job.
“But staff shortages were putting an incredible strain on them and I know the Force have been working incredibly hard to improve the situation and the service our public receive.
“Phenomenal job”
“My office has been supporting them throughout that process so I am delighted to see that the answering times are the best they have ever been.
“That means that when our residents do need to contact Surrey Police, they are having their call answered quickly and efficiently.
“This has not been a quick fix – we have seen these improvements sustained over the last five months.
“With the measures now in place, I am confident going forward that Surrey Police will maintain this level of service when responding to the public.”
