Category: Communication and engagement

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend sat with a member of Surrey Police contact staff

Commissioner hails dramatic improvement in 999 and 101 call answering times – as best results on record are achieved

Posted on | by Alex Winter

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.

In December last year, a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Services (HMICFRS) highlighted concerns around the service residents receive when they contact police on 999, 101 and digital 101.

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.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaking at Policing your Community event in Woking

“We are listening” – Commissioner thanks residents as ‘Policing Your Community’ roadshow highlights priorities for Force

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has thanked residents for joining a series of ‘Policing your Community’ events held across the county this winter, saying that work by her office and Surrey Police is continuing to tackle the issues that matter most to local people.

Both in-person and online meetings were hosted by the Commissioner, the Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and the local policing commander in all 11 boroughs across Surrey between October and February.

Over 500 people took part and had the opportunity to pose their questions on policing where they live.

Visible policing, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and road safety emerged as top priorities for residents while burglary, shoplifting and contacting Surrey Police also featured as key issues they wanted to raise.

They said they wanted to see more police officers in their area carrying out work to prevent and support those affected by burglaries, theft and dangerous and anti-social driving.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaking at Policing your Community event in Woking

In addition, more than 3,300 people completed the Commissioner’s council tax survey this year which asked residents to choose the three areas they most wanted the Force to focus on. Over half of those who responded said they were concerned about burglary and anti-social behaviour, followed by drugs and drug related crime and neighbourhood crime prevention. Around 1,600 people also added additional comments about policing in the survey.

The Commissioner said her message to Surrey residents was – ‘We are listening” and that the Chief’s new Plan for the Force is designed to take the fight to the criminals by relentlessly pursuing the most prolific offenders, tackling pockets of lawlessness and driving drug dealers and shoplifting gangs out of the county.

Anyone who missed the event for their area can watch the meeting back online here.

The Commissioner said over the coming weeks she will be highlighting some of the incredible work already being carried out by policing teams across the county and some of the projects her office is helping to fund to combat issues such as anti-social behaviour.

Since October, Surrey Police have seen improvements in the average time it takes to contact the Force and will be providing an update on this soon.

The Force have also seen improvements in the number of solved outcomes for serious violence, sexual offences and domestic abuse including stalking and controlling and coercive behaviour. A solved outcome represents a charge, caution, community resolution, or taken into consideration.

Following a 26% increase in shoplifting offences in 2023, Surrey Police are also working closely with retailers on a new way to report offences and have already carried out a major operation in December resulting in 20 arrests in a single day.

While the number of solved outcomes for domestic burglary have increased at a slower pace – this remains a key focus of the Force who are ensuring that officers attend every report of burglary in the county.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend said: “Listening to the views of residents and being their representative is the single most important part of my role as Commissioner for our wonderful county.

“The ‘Policing Your Community’ events coupled with the feedback we received in my council tax survey has given us a really important insight into residents’ experiences of policing across our county and the issues that concern them.

“It is vital that the public have their say on policing where they live and my message to them is – we are listening.

“We know how important it is for people to feel safe in their communities so we must make sure that Surrey Police is taking the right action to tackle issues such anti-social behaviour, road safety and burglary. And we must ensure that people can contact Surrey Police quickly when they need them.

“Surrey remains one of the safest counties in the country and the Force is now the biggest it has ever been. This means there are more officers and staff than ever before to protect our communities from not only visible crime, but also ‘hidden’ harms like online fraud and exploitation that account for over a third of all offences.

“Over the coming weeks we will be highlighting some of the incredible work already being carried out day in, day out by our hard-working police teams across the county and some of the exciting projects coming up that I believe will make our communities even safer.”

Police and Crime Commissioner walking through graffiti covered tunnel with two male police officers from the local team in Spelthorne

Chief Constable for Surrey Police Tim De Meyer said: “I am so grateful to all those who attended the ‘Policing Your Community’ events. It was extremely useful to be able to explain our plans for policing Surrey, and to receive feedback from the public.

“People were very supportive of our plans to improve our response to violence against women and girls, and of our determination to prevent crime and pursue criminals relentlessly.

“We are acting immediately on concerns in respect of issues such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour and have made good strides in many of the areas that matter most to those we are here to protect, in no small part thanks to the hard work of our officers and staff. I am sure that I shall be able to report good progress when we next meet with our communities.”

Surrey Police can be contacted by calling 101, via Surrey Police social media channels or at https://surrey.police.uk. In an emergency or if a crime is in progress – please call 999.

deep blue banner for 'Policing your Community' events with Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Surrey Police logos

Commissioner invites residents’ questions as ‘Policing your Community’ events continue

Posted on | by James Smith

Surrey Residents are invited to have their say on policing in their local community as our office and Surrey Police prepare to hold a new series of ‘Policing your Community’ events online this January.

An event discussing policing in each Borough and District will take place from 08–29 January 2024 and will offer residents the opportunity to put their questions the Commissioner Lisa Townsend, Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and the Borough Commander responsible for their area.

They follow events held in each area attended by over 300 people between October and December 2023.

New Chief Constable Tim De Meyer was appointed by the Commissioner in April and will talk about the current challenges and plans for Surrey Police. It is an important time for the Force, with more police officers in Surrey’s communities than ever before.

The events will also be held as the Commissioner consults residents on the amount of council tax they are willing to pay towards policing in the new financial year, that is combined with funding from central Government.

Events are free to attend but residents are urged to register their attendance by selecting the link for their local event below:

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Listening to the views of local people is at the heart of my role as your Police and Crime Commissioner and strengthening the relationships between Surrey Police and residents is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan for the county.

“These events will give residents an opportunity to speak to us directly about the policing issues that matter where they live, as well as hear about the progress that my office and Surrey Police are making against that Plan which is based on the priorities of the public.

“Surrey Police has put more officers than ever before on the ground and is working hard to boost the service that residents receive. I hope that residents will join us online to learn more, and to have their say in the funding for Surrey Police that is vital to continue to provide the best possible service in 2024.”

Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: “We want to provide the best possible policing service and it is extremely important that our residents are kept up to date. These events will enable us to speak to the public about current challenges and our plans for Surrey Police and are an opportunity for you to ask questions. It would be great to see as many of you there as possible.”

Learn more about how your council tax helps to fund Surrey Police here.

Performance meeting graphic

Watch live: Commissioner to put questions to the Chief Constable in latest public performance meeting

Posted on | by James Smith

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, dog attacks and the latest crime trends will be among topics discussed when Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend holds her latest live performance meeting with the Chief Constable next week. 

A live stream of the Performance and Accountability Meeting where Lisa will put questions to Tim De Meyer on behalf of the public will be broadcast between 10:00-11:30am on Wednesday 25 October. 

You can watch the meeting here. 

If you have a question you want to ask about policing – you can join the meeting live or send us your questions in advance using our contact page. 

Other subjects on Wednesday’s agenda include the implications of the Public Order Act 2023 that is in final stages in parliament and an update on how the Force’s Problem Solving Team are tackling issues in our communities. 

The regular meeting forms a key part of the Commissioner’s role to scrutinise the service that Surrey Police provides to residents, including a review of performance measures that are publicly available for residents to view using our office’s Data Hub. 

It will focus on how the Force is delivering against the priorities in the Police and Crime Plan, that includes protecting people from harm, preventing violence against women and girls, ensuring safer Surrey roads and strengthening the relationships between Surrey Police and residents. 

The meeting comes as Tim marks his first six months as Surrey’s new Chief Constable and he will talk about the progress made in other key areas since he was started in April. 

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Holding the Chief Constable to account for the performance of Surrey Police is at the heart of my role as Commissioner. These public meetings are an important way for me to directly represent the voice of residents and I encourage Surrey residents to join this meeting to have their say on the service they receive.” 

Viewers will not need a Facebook account to watch the meeting but will need to login to ask questions.  

 A recording will be made available to view for anyone who can’t tune in on the night and promoted on our Facebook and YouTube channels. 

Join us in person

Residents can also find out more about policing where they live, by attending one of the ‘Policing your Community’ events being hosted by our Office and Surrey Police from 24 October – 29 January.  
 
The meetings offer a chance to speak directly to the Commissioner, Chief Constable and Borough Commander responsible for policing where you live and will take place in each of Surrey’s boroughs and districts and online. 
 
See the details of your event here. 

Dark blue graphic with heading, 'Policing your Community' and image of two female police officers behind text that says, 'Engagement events: Join Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and your local Borough Commander for an event discussing policing in your community. Further details of the events will be published on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's website at surrey-pcc.gov.uk/policing-your-community Graphic contains white logos on blue background for Surrey Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Have your say on local policing as ‘Policing your Community’ roadshow returns

Posted on | by James Smith

Residents will get the chance to have their say on policing in their local communities as Surrey Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner team up to hold a series of public engagement events over the next three months.

The ‘Policing Your Community’ events will take place from 24 October 2023 – 29 January 2024 and offer residents the opportunity to put their questions about local policing to the Commissioner Lisa Townsend, Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and the Inspector responsible for the local policing where they live.

It comes at an exciting time for the Force, with more police officers in Surrey’s communities than ever before.

New Chief Constable Tim De Meyer was appointed by the Commissioner in April and will talk about the current challenges and plans for Surrey Police.

The events throughout this winter will also take place ahead of the Commissioner’s planned consultation on the amount that residents will contribute towards policing from next year’s council tax, giving residents a chance to learn more about how their money is used both visibly – and behind the scenes – to boost crime fighting across Surrey.

Arrival for in-person events begins at 6:30pm with presentations starting at 6:45pm. Events are free to attend but residents are urged to register their attendance by selecting the link for their local event below:

For those that can’t make it, additional virtual events will take place online for each borough and district from Monday 08 January until 29 January 2024:

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Listening to the views of local people is at the heart of my role as your Police and Crime Commissioner and strengthening the relationships between Surrey Police and residents is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan for the county.

“These events will give residents an opportunity to speak to us directly about the policing issues that matter where they live, as well as hear about the progress that my office and Surrey Police are making against that Plan which is based on the priorities of the public.

“It is a really exciting time, as we put more officers than ever before on the ground and aim to boost the service that residents receive. I hope that residents will join us at the event in their area so we can include their voice in our policing plans.”

Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: “We want to provide the best possible policing service and it is extremely important that our residents are kept up to date. These events will enable us to speak to the public about current challenges and our plans for Surrey Police and are an opportunity for you to ask questions. It would be great to see as many of you there as possible.”

Performance and accountability meeting with Surrey Police. Watch Live 16 May 18:30-20:00. Send us your questions at surrey-pcc.gov.uk/contact-us

Commissioner invites public questions as she holds first performance meeting with Surrey’s new Chief Constable

Posted on | by James Smith

A live stream of Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s first Public Performance Meeting with Surrey Police’s new Chief Constable will be broadcast next week.

The Commissioner will talk to Tim De Meyer about his vision for the Force and how he intends to tackle those issues important to residents at the meeting which starts at 6:30pm on Tuesday 16 May.

It will include an update on the Force’s performance, as well as questions from the public on key areas including response times and public confidence in the police.

You can watch it here.

It comes as Tim enters his seventh week as Surrey’s new Chief, after the Commissioner appointed him in January this year.

The regular meeting forms a key part of Lisa’s role to scrutinise the service that Surrey Police provides to residents, including a review of performance measures that are publicly available for residents to view using the office’s new Data Hub.

It will specifically focus on how the Chief will lead delivery against the priorities in her Police and Crime Plan that is informed by Surrey residents and stakeholders. It includes improving road safety, preventing violence against women and girls, supporting young people and tackling anti-social behaviour.

The meeting will address a recent decline in 101 and 999 answering times, focusing on measures being put in place to improve the response that callers receive.

The Commissioner will also ask about the positive steps that Surrey Police is taking to root out misogyny and inappropriate behaviour in its ranks, alongside the success of the Force’s recruitment campaign that means there are now more police officers in the ranks than ever before.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I was delighted to welcome Tim to the Force in April and I know he has wasted no time in getting to grips with the challenges that lie ahead.

““Holding the Chief Constable to account for the performance of Surrey Police is at the heart of my role as your Commissioner. So I am really pleased to get this first opportunity to talk to Tim publicly about his fresh perspective on policing in Surrey and how he intends to tackle those issues that residents tell me are important to them.

“Members of the public can get involved by sharing their questions and views, so that my office and Surrey Police can work together to improve the service for everyone.”

Viewers will not need a Facebook account to watch the meeting live but will need to login to ask questions. You can also share your questions for the meeting in advance using our contact page.

A recording will be made available to view for anyone who can’t tune in on the night.

Graffiti and rubbish by wall

Have your say: Commissioner launches anti-social behaviour survey to boost response in Surrey

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has launched a county-wide survey on the impact and understanding of anti-social behaviour in Surrey.

It comes as the county’s partnership looks to boost the service that residents receive from the different agencies that are involved when they report an issue.

Getting tough on anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a key part of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan, that includes making sure people are protected from harm and feel safe.

The survey is an important way of making sure residents’ views remain at the heart of the work of the Commissioner and partners – while capturing a fresh picture of the problems that communities in Surrey are facing in 2023.

It will provide valuable data that will be used to hone services and raise crucial awareness of the different routes for reporting ASB and the support that is available to those affected.

It only takes a few minutes to fill in the survey and you can have your say now here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/GQZJN3/

Anti-social behaviour takes many forms, ranging from rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour to anti-social driving and criminal damage. It is tackled by the county’s ASB and Community Harm Reduction Partnership Delivery Group that includes the Commissioner’s office, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, housing providers and various support charities.

Persistent ASB can significantly increase the risk to an individual’s health and is often connected with the bigger picture of community safety. For example, repeat ASB might indicate that ‘hidden’ crimes including abuse or drug use are taking place, or that a vulnerable individual is being targeted or exploited.

But reducing anti-social behaviour is complex and requires coordinated support from partners in areas such as housing, care, and mental health as well as policing.

Charity ASB Help are supporting the launch of the survey and will be working with the Commissioner’s office and Surrey Police to analyse the feedback in the spring.

In order to amplify the voice of victims, they’ll also be holding a series of face-to-face focus groups with victims of ASB, followed by an online consultation with community representatives. Individuals completing the survey can sign up to take part in one of three sessions that are planned to take place at the start of summer.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said it was a topic that is regularly raised by residents in Surrey, but that ASB could not be ‘solved’ by police alone:

She said: “Anti-social behaviour is often described as a ‘low level’ crime but I don’t agree – it can have a lasting and devastating impact on people’s lives.

“I regularly hear from residents affected by ASB and they often feel there is no escape. It is happening where they are and may repeat weekly or even daily.

“What might seem like a small issue reported to one organisation, such an ongoing neighbourhood dispute, could also belie a cycle of harm that is hard to spot from a single viewpoint.

“Making sure our communities feel safe is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan for Surrey and I’m proud that we have a strong partnership tackling ASB in Surrey. By working together, we can see the bigger picture to reduce ASB in the longer term. But we can only do that by making sure we listen to victims and actively identify how to strengthen support including mediation or the Community Trigger Process.

“There is more to do. Your views are really important for us to be able to raise more awareness of the ways you can report different problems and access help.”

Harvinder Saimbhi, CEO at charity ASB Help said: “We are really pleased to be supporting the launch of the ASB survey across Surrey. Holding face-to-face focus groups really gives partner agencies an opportunity to hear directly from individuals about their experiences and the impact of ASB within their communities. This initiative will ensure victims are at the heart of the response to effectively tackling ASB.”

The online survey will run until Friday, 31 March.

Anyone affected by ASB in Surrey can find out which agency to contact for different problems at https://www.healthysurrey.org.uk/community-safety/asb/who-deals-with-it

Parking issues and people gathering socially are not forms of ASB. ASB that should be reported to the police includes criminal damage, drug use and antisocial drinking, begging or antisocial use of vehicles.

Support is available if you are affected by persistent ASB in Surrey. Visit the Mediation Surrey website for more information about mediation and coaching to resolve community, neighbourhood or family disputes.

Visit our Community Trigger page to find out what to do if you have reported the same problem on multiple occasions in a six month period, but have not received a response that resolves the issue.

Contact Surrey Police on 101, via Surrey Police social media channels or at surrey.police.uk. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson looking at an ipad with a student from Surrey

Local student leads rebrand of Commissioner’s office as team boost engagement with Surrey residents

Posted on | by James Smith | Leave a Comment on Local student leads rebrand of Commissioner’s office as team boost engagement with Surrey residents

A graphic design student at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham has led the design of a brand-new look for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner as part of a commitment to expand engagement with communities across Surrey.

During my time with Akiko I worked closely with the designers and Commissioner’s team meaning I learned lots about how an original idea is developed through different versions, and about things I didn’t know before such as the different pantone colours to use.

Jack Dunlop

22-year old Jack Dunlop from Camberley was chosen to develop his branding concept after taking part in a competition run as part of the Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson’s focus on increasing the opportunities available to children and young people in the county.
During a week-long placement with Akiko Design in Bramley, Jack received expert guidance to bring his vision to life, taking part in project meetings and receiving an iPad Pro and Apple pencil to aid in his future designs.
Over the week he developed valuable skills and an increased confidence to guide and exchange ideas with clients and to progress his design in a limited time.
Jack said: “I love making things visually appealing and always have ideas when I’m out and about for how I can improve the way that shops and other visual communication around me look.
“During my time with Akiko I worked closely with the designers and Commissioner’s team meaning I learned lots about how an original idea is developed through different versions, and about things I didn’t know before such as the different pantone colours to use.

“I got a lot more confident using different tools and joined in the discussions about the wider project, which was really interesting.
“In my last project at university we looked at branding, so it was really rewarding to be able to create real life branding and see that through the whole process. I’m going to be looking for a job in design after my degree so am excited that I’ll be able to talk lots about this experience.”
The brand is unveiled as the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner designate a new pot of funding for community organisations aimed at the safety of children and young people over the next three years.
The specific allocation of a Children and Young People’s Fund follows a £100,000 project with Catch22 to reduce the criminal exploitation of young people established in January, and longer term investments by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to increase the support available to children and young people at risk of, or affected by sexual violence.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson said: “It was brilliant to work with Jack and to see him grow in confidence throughout the week with the design agency.
“I am really excited to be able to launch our new branding look based on Jack’s concept and am so pleased that this experience will give him a big boost when he finishes his studies and applies for his dream job.
“We had a number of brilliant entries to our competition from young people all over the county, and we were really impressed by Jack’s submission and the thought he put in to developing his initial concept.
“Including a young person in this process was key for me from the beginning as we extend our reach to children and young people whose voices are important in policing Surrey.
“We’re listening to all residents who say they want us to engage better and more widely and the rebrand is one piece of the work that we are actively progressing to make the Commissioner, myself and the whole office more accessible, including more opportunities to provide feedback and have a say in the performance of Surrey Police.”
Carrie Crosland, Account Manager at Akiko Design said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Jack to our office and to have supported his journey into design.
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Local student leads rebrand of Commissioner’s office as team boost engagement with Surrey residents

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

A graphic design student at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham has led the design of a brand-new look for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner as part of a commitment to expand engagement with communities across Surrey.

22-year old Jack Dunlop from Camberley was chosen to develop his branding concept after taking part in a competition run as part of the Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson’s focus on increasing the opportunities available to children and young people in the county.

During a week-long placement with Akiko Design in Bramley, Jack received expert guidance to bring his vision to life, taking part in project meetings and receiving an iPad Pro and Apple pencil to aid in his future designs.

Over the week he developed valuable skills and an increased confidence to guide and exchange ideas with clients and to progress his design in a limited time.

Jack said: “I love making things visually appealing and always have ideas when I’m out and about for how I can improve the way that shops and other visual communication around me look.

“During my time with Akiko I worked closely with the designers and Commissioner’s team meaning I learned lots about how an original idea is developed through different versions, and about things I didn’t know before such as the different pantone colours to use.

“I got a lot more confident using different tools and joined in the discussions about the wider project, which was really interesting.

“In my last project at university we looked at branding, so it was really rewarding to be able to create real life branding and see that through the whole process. I’m going to be looking for a job in design after my degree so am excited that I’ll be able to talk lots about this experience.”

The brand is unveiled as the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner designate a new pot of funding for community organisations aimed at the safety of children and young people over the next three years.

The specific allocation of a Children and Young People’s Fund follows a £100,000 project with Catch22 to reduce the criminal exploitation of young people established in January, and longer term investments by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to increase the support available to children and young people at risk of, or affected by sexual violence.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson said: “It was brilliant to work with Jack and to see him grow in confidence throughout the week with the design agency.

“I am really excited to be able to launch our new branding look based on Jack’s concept and am so pleased that this experience will give him a big boost when he finishes his studies and applies for his dream job.

“We had a number of brilliant entries to our competition from young people all over the county, and we were really impressed by Jack’s submission and the thought he put in to developing his initial concept.

“Including a young person in this process was key for me from the beginning as we extend our reach to children and young people whose voices are important in policing Surrey.

“We’re listening to all residents who say they want us to engage better and more widely and the rebrand is one piece of the work that we are actively progressing to make the Commissioner, myself and the whole office more accessible, including more opportunities to provide feedback and have a say in the performance of Surrey Police.”

Carrie Crosland, Account Manager at Akiko Design said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Jack to our office and to have supported his journey into design.

“We were really impressed with the way in which he worked hard to develop his ideas into a brand package that he should be very proud of and we are pleased that this project reflects the really strong connection that Akiko has with local places, businesses and organisations in Surrey.”

The launch of the new brand will be accompanied by a new and more accessible website designed by Akiko later this year. It follows the introduction of monthly public surgery meetings with Commissioner Lisa Townsend and a new live format of Public Performance and Accountability meetings with Surrey Police that enhances the voice of local residents.

You can find out more about the Commissioner’s priorities for Surrey Police by reading the Police and Crime Plan for 2021-25 or learn more about how the Commissioner monitors the performance of the Force on our Performance and Accountability page.