Category: Communication and engagement

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.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner vows to focus on the public’s priorities as she marks one year in office

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has vowed to continue putting the views of residents at the forefront of her plans as she this week marks a year since taking office.

The Commissioner said she has enjoyed every minute of the job so far and is looking forward to continuing to work with Surrey Police to deliver on the priorities the public have told her are the most important where they live.

Since winning the election in May last year, the Commissioner and her deputy Ellie Vesey-Thompson have been out across the county speaking to residents, joining police officers and staff on the frontline and visiting those services and projects the office commissions across the county to support victims and local communities.

In December, the Commissioner launched her Police and Crime Plan for the county which was firmly based on the priorities residents said were the most important to them such as the safety of our local roads, tackling anti-social behaviour and ensuring the safety of women and girls in our communities.

It followed the widest consultation with the public and our partners that the PCC’s office has ever undertaken and will form the basis on which the Commissioner will be holding the Chief Constable to account over the next two years.

In the last year, the Commissioner’s office has awarded over £4million to projects and services aimed at making our communities safer, reducing re-offending and supporting victims to cope and recover.

This has included securing over £2m in extra government funding which has provided more money to help tackle domestic abuse and sexual violence as well as Safer Streets funding which has helped improve safety for women and girls using the Basingstoke Canal in Woking and combat burglaries in the Tandridge area.

Major new services to tackle stalking and child criminal exploitation and a service aimed at the perpetrators of domestic abuse have also been launched.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “It has been a real privilege to serve the people of Surrey over the last year and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far.

“I know from speaking to the Surrey public that we all want to see more police officers on the streets of our county tackling those issues that matter most to our communities.

“Surrey Police have been working hard to recruit an extra 150 officers and operational staff over the last year with a further 98 to come in the year ahead as part of the government uplift programme.

“In February, I set my first budget for the Force and the small increase in council tax contributions from residents will mean Surrey Police are able to sustain their current policing levels and give the right support to those extra officers we are bringing in.

“There have been some big decisions to take during my first year not least on the future of the Surrey Police Headquarters which I have agreed with the Force will remain at the Mount Browne site in Guildford rather than the previously planned move to Leatherhead.

“I believe this is the right move for our officers and staff and will most of all provide the best value for money for the Surrey public.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been in contact over the last year and I am keen to hear from as many people as possible about their views on policing in Surrey so do please keep getting in touch.

“We are working on a number of ways to make it easier to engage with our office – I am holding monthly online surgeries; we are inviting the Surrey public to take part in my performance meetings with the Chief Constable and there are plans to host community events across the county in the near future.

“The most important part of my role is being the representative of you, the Surrey public, and I look forward to working with residents, Surrey Police and our partners across the county to ensure we provide you with the best policing service possible.”

Competition launched as Commissioner’s Office seeks young person to lead rebrand project

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office has launched a competition inviting young people across Surrey to submit their designs for the Office’s new logo.

The winner of the three-week competition will be offered the opportunity to then work alongside a leading Surrey design agency to bring their idea to life and will receive an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil to support their future journey in design.

The competition is part of the rebrand of the Commissioner’s Office this spring and follows the commitment of Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson to encourage more opportunities for children and young people in Surrey.

A Competition Pack including more information on how to get involved is available here.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who is leading the Office’s focus on children and young people, said: “Myself and the team are really excited to see the valuable contribution that young people in Surrey will bring to this project as we develop our new visual identity.

“Ahead of the publication of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan in December, we heard from residents, including young people, who said they wanted us to engage better and more widely.

Happy smiling girl in glasses alongside decorative font and iPad and Apple Pencil pop up. Win an iPad Pro and a one week placement tocreate our branding with a leading Surrey design agency. Find out more www.surrey-pcc.gov.uk/design-us

“The competition will offer a fantastic opportunity for one of the brilliant young people in our county to develop highly valued skills in design, while extending our reach to young people whose voices we want to actively include in our plans for Surrey. It also forms a part of the commitment of the Office to strengthen how we communicate with all residents, specifically to grow more awareness of the role of the Commissioner, our partners and Surrey Police in representing their views and creating a safer county.”

The competition will close at midnight on Thursday, 31 March 2022. Entrants must be between the ages of 15 and 25 years old and live in Surrey to take part.

Organisations working with young people in Surrey are encouraged to promote the competition to their networks by downloading a Partner Pack.

Cover of the Police and Crime Plan 2021-25

“The safety of our communities must remain at the heart of policing in Surrey” – Commissioner Lisa Townsend unveils her Police and Crime Plan

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has pledged to keep the safety of communities at the heart of policing in Surrey as she today unveiled her first Police and Crime Plan.

The Plan, which is published today, is designed to set out the strategic direction for Surrey Police and those key areas the Commissioner believes the Force needs to focus on for the next three years.

The Commissioner has set out key five priorities which the Surrey public have told her are the most important to them:

  • Reducing violence against women and girls in Surrey
  • Protecting people from harm in Surrey
  • Working with Surrey communities so that they feel safe
  • Strengthening relationships between Surrey Police and Surrey residents
  • Ensuring safer Surrey roads

Read the Plan here.

The Plan will run during the Commissioner’s current term of office until 2025 and provides the basis for how she holds the Chief Constable to account.

As part of the development of the plan, the widest consultation process ever carried out by the PCC’s office took place over recent months.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson led consultation events with a number of key groups such as MPs, councillors, victim and survivor groups, young people, professionals in crime reduction and safety, rural crime groups and those representing Surrey’s diverse communities.

In addition, nearly 2,600 Surrey residents took part in a county-wide survey to have their say on what they would like to see in the plan.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “It is really important to me that my plan reflects the views of Surrey residents and that their priorities are my priorities.

“Earlier this year we undertook a huge consultation exercise to get a broad range of views from both the public and those key partners we work with on what they would like to see from their police service.

“It is clear that there are issues that consistently cause concern such as speeding, anti-social behaviour, drugs and the safety of women and girls in our communities.

“I want to thank everyone who took part in our consultation process – your contribution has been invaluable in drawing this plan together.

“We’ve listened and this plan is very much based on the conversations we’ve had and the comments we’ve received on what is most important to people where they live and work.

“It is vital we strive to provide that visible police presence the public want in their communities, tackle those crimes and issues that affect our local communities and support victims and the most vulnerable in our society.

“The last 18 months have been particularly difficult for everyone and it will take time to recover from the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. That is why I believe it is more important than ever that we strengthen those relationships between our police teams and local communities and ensure we put their safety at the very heart of our plans.

“In order to achieve that and deliver on the priorities set out in my plan – I need to ensure that the Chief Constable has the right resources and that our policing teams are given the necessary support.

“In the coming days I will be consulting with the public again on my plans for this year’s council tax precept and asking for their support in these challenging times.

“Surrey is a fantastic place to live and work and I am committed to using this plan and working with the Chief Constable to continue providing the best policing service we can for our residents.”

Have your say as ‘Policing your Community’ events return online

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Surrey Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey are once more teaming up to invite residents to have their say in a new series of public engagement events across Surrey.

The events in January and February will be held online, but will still provide an opportunity to ask the PCC, Chief Constable an Borough Commander responsible for policing in your community, about the issues that matter most to you.

There will also be a chance to talk to Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro about proposals for the 2021-22 Council Tax Precept and to take part in his public consultation launched in January.

PCC David Munro said: “After an extremely difficult year for so many in our communities, this year’s events offer an even more valuable opportunity to be involved and have your say in policing where you live.

“Setting the policing element of the council tax is one of the most vital tasks a PCC has to make.Engaging directly with our communities over the next few weeks will also maximise the opportunities for the Surrey public to have their say in that decision.”

Residents are urged see more details on the event for their area on our Engagement Events page.