Category: Funding

The image shows a group of people sitting inside a van. All are looking at the camera and smiling. The people include Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who sits on the far left and wears a pink coat. It also includes police officers in uniform.

“Transformative” strategy to tackle criminality and restore pride sees crime drop in Redhill

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A “TRANSFORMATIVE” strategy to build pride in Redhill has seen crime in the town drop. 

The Safer Redhill scheme, which has drawn in partners including Surrey Police, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and the YMCA, has resulted in a significant decrease in offences including sexual assault, robbery and shoplifting.

The initiative utilised Safer Streets funding secured by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and her team, as well as an additional grant from the Commissioner’s Community Safety Fund. 

In the year to April 2025, reports of shoplifting in Redhill have dropped by 16 per cent, while reported sexual assault has decreased by 19 per cent, grievous bodily harm by 43 per cent and robbery by 56 per cent. 

An increase in the use of stop and search has led to a significant rise in arrests for possession of a bladed article or other offensive weapon.

Crime drop

More than 150 arrests have been made, and 30 years of prison time handed down to offenders, while 10kg of cocaine with a potential value of £800,000 was taken off the streets. 

The project adopts the Clear, Hold, Build framework. 

The three-stage approach involves police relentlessly pursuing criminals to ‘clear’ an area, maintaining a hold over the location to prevent further offending, and then working in tandem with partners to build resilience so it is less likely to be targeted in the future. 

Clear, Hold, Build is set to be rolled out in three more Surrey towns, which will be revealed in the coming months. 

In June, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson visited Redhill with Home Office officials and senior officers from Surrey Police to see the work that has been done. 

Success in Redhill

Shane Roberts, the architect of Clear, Hold, Build, was among those to join the visit, and will be using the scheme as a “remarkable” example of national excellence in the future.

He told the meeting he had initially been unsure that the initiative would work in a town centre, but said: “It’s one of the best sites I’ve seen go through the three processes nationally.”

Lisa said: “While Safer Streets funding is no longer made available by this Government, the same principles that resulted in such huge successes in Redhill will soon be applied to three further areas of Surrey. 

Partnership work

“We have seen a range of police-led initiatives across Redhill, from drugs operations at the train station to plain-clothed deployments and retail crime crackdowns. 

“But the true success of the scheme lies in partnership work.

“For example, I am pleased that Safer Streets funding secured by my team and I has helped cover the costs of initiatives such as the YMCA bus, which has been used to engage with more than 1,300 young people in their communities. 

“Street lighting has been installed by the council in areas where residents feared anti-social behaviour at night, and a shelter that attracted large groups was removed. 

“Transformative”

“Youth mentoring service Ment4 has worked with 3,555 young people to educate them on the reality of substance misuse and gangs. 

“This is deep-rooted, transformative work that we believe will result in both a lasting legacy and a stronger community. 

“Clear, Hold, Build uses intelligence and data to crack down on place-based harm, and I’m delighted that more towns will be launching the initiative in the future. 

“I wish Surrey Police’s officers and staff, as well as our brilliant partners across the county, every success as they begin their journey.” 

The image shows a building in a park. The building has been painted with a large graffiti-style mural, which features the word 'life' in yellow against a pink background and an image of a young girl with curly hair smiling broadly with her mouth open.

A building in Memorial Park has been given a makeover with a graffiti-style mural

Two officers in high-vis jackets and hats stand in Epsom outside a parade of shops. Both are looking at Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, a woman with short blonde hair who wears pink trousers and a black and white polka dot blouse. All of the people in the image are smiling and a conversation is taking place.

Impacted by anti-social behaviour? Here’s why it matters (and where to get support)

Posted on | by Alex Winter

ARE you impacted by anti-social behaviour in your community? 

This national Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, is sharing information on how to get support. 

Anti-social behaviour is one of the issues most frequently raised with the Commissioner by Surrey’s residents through consultations, surgeries and the Policing Your Community events. 

As a result, one of the key priorities in Lisa’s refreshed Police and Crime Plan, which launched this year, is strengthening safe and resilient communities.  

Over the coming years, she has committed to working with Surrey Police and partners to find effective, lasting solutions that create conditions for communities to thrive, and that allow residents to feel listened to and supported. 

Reports of anti-social behaviour taking place during the summer have almost halved since 2018, when 6,770 reports were made. In 2024, 3,789 reports of anti-social behaviour were made to police.

Help is available

The issue remains a priority for Surrey Police. In the past few months, Lisa has joined officers on patrol in Guildford, where funding secured by her office has led to a significant reduction in youth-related anti-social behaviour on Sundays. 

In Redhill, similar funding secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has led to a drop in a range of offences impacting the community, including retail crime.  

Partnership work in the town has seen additional solar lighting set up at Memorial Park, while a shelter that had become a site for anti-social behaviour was removed, and new benches installed instead. 

Meanwhile, Lisa has launched the Community Safety and Prevention Board, which is designed to bring partners from across the county together to close loopholes in the support offered to Surrey’s residents. 

In addition, a range of measures are available for those impacted by anti-social behaviour. 



Commissioner’s funding

The Commissioner’s office funds Mediation Surrey, which aims to resolve neighbourhood issues through discussion. 

Those who feel failed after repeatedly reporting anti-social behaviour can turn to the ASB Case Review, which draws together key partners to review their actions. 

More news on how Surrey Police is tackling anti-social behaviour will be announced this week. 

The Commissioner said: “Surrey is already one of the safest places to live in the country. 

“But we know anti-social behaviour can have an outsize impact that can seriously affect residents’ lives. 

“Protected, supported, heard”

“Issues like anti-social behaviour require a targeted response from a range of agencies. Policing alone cannot solve the harms caused or prevent it from happening in the first place. 

“That’s why we’re dedicated to working with partners to create safe communities where residents are protected, supported, and heard.” 

To learn more about how to access support or report an issue, visit healthysurrey.org.uk/community-safety/asb 

What is anti-social behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour covers a huge range of behaviours, including:There are also some things that, while annoying, do not count as anti-social behaviour, which might include:
Antisocial driving/speeding DIY or off-road car repairs (unless late at night or early in the morning) 
Nuisance noiseEveryday living noises such as loud conversations, doors opening and closing, and lawnmowers in use 
Drug use or drug dealingOne-off occasional events such as birthday parties, barbecues, or other celebrations 
Dog foulingLawful use of fireworks
Fly-tippingProperty boundary disputes
Graffiti Lifestyle differences, such as cooking odours or putting rubbish out on the wrong day
LitteringChildren playing in or around their own home, in the street, or in the park, and not causing damage, being abusive, or being excessively noisy
The image shows a group of people standing in front of a wall with graffiti artwork on it. The group includes officers in uniform, and at the centre is Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, who wears a stripy long-sleeved top and sailor-style trousers, and Surrey Police's Chief Constable, who wears a short-sleeved shirt with epaulettes and a tie. Everyone in the group is looking at the camera and smiling.

How table football and fist bumps help police build relationships with young people in Camberley

Posted on | by Alex Winter

EVER wondered how good Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner is at table tennis? 

As children and young people from Camberley found out this week, the answer is: surprisingly good. 

And members of the Club Dean youth centre also discovered that Surrey Heath Borough Commander Ryan Scott is unbeatable at table football, while the Force’s Chief Constable Tim De Meyer plays a sharp game of pool. 

Lisa Townsend joined officers and staff after their working day had ended to celebrate national Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action. 

The event shines a spotlight on the vital work of neighbourhood officers, PCSOs and volunteers to protect the public and keep people safe. 



Club visit

Surrey Heath councillors Shaun Garrett and Trefor Hogg, who have been instrumental to the club’s success, also attended on the night to welcome the team. 

It comes as Lisa commits just over £31,000 to fund a youth worker at Club Dean. The post aims to promote community safety and provide opportunities to young people on the estate. 

Ahead of the visit, Lisa answered questions on crime and policing from 50 students at Collingwood College before joining officers and PCSOs from the Surrey Heath Safer Neighbourhood Team on a patrol of the Old Dean estate. 

The Commissioner has a dedicated funding stream for opportunities that support children and young people and divert them away from crime. 

“No child should be afraid”

She said: “We want every child and young person in Surrey to have the tools they need for healthy, safe, happy lives. 

“As part of that, no child should ever be afraid to speak to police or view officers as the enemy. 

“That’s why I’m so grateful the team at Surrey Heath have taken the time to join me at Club Dean after their working day has ended to play games with the young people here.

“It was lovely to see young members welcome officers with some fantastic questions and some fist bumps too. 

Breaking down barriers

“I’m also delighted that our Chief Constable, who used to volunteer at a boxing club on the Old Dean estate, has been able to join in. 

“He’s proven to be a wonderful pool player, although I did spot him secretly potting a red for his young opponent while she wasn’t looking. 

“Meeting children in a setting like this breaks down barriers and build relationships.

“But they aren’t the only people to benefit from the team’s visit today. 

Officers’ impact

“Some adults who are struggling with homelessness have been spoken to by the officers and PCSOs, along with the fantastic team at the Hope Hub – a charity I support through funding that aims to relieve poverty across the borough. 

“That’s why the Force’s role in Surrey’s neighbourhoods is so crucial. Our officers can impact lives for years to come. 

“It also makes me so proud that I can support organisations like Club Dean and the Hope Hub. Their work has the power to make real, lasting change.” 

Image shows a WhatsApp screen with three emojis in the text bar - an 8-ball, a snowflake and a rocket. Below the images is the typing pad.

8-ball emojis and the promise of money: How children are being drawn into county lines gangs

Posted on | by Alex Winter

CHILDREN are being recruited into county lines drug dealing gangs by criminals aided by the use a “new” form of language that parents won’t necessarily recognise, Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner says.

In an interview on BBC Radio Surrey, Ellie Vesey-Thompson said young people exploited by gangs to ferry drugs are often communicating using emojis.

Surrey Police has previously warned that some emojis – such as the snowflake, the 8-ball and the rocket – are code for drug use.

But Ellie said there is support available for children and young people at risk, and highlighted the work of Catch22.



“It saved my life”

The service’s Farnham-based Music To My Ears programme, which has been fully-funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, has so far supported more than 800 vulnerable young people.

One of its clients, 17-year-old ‘Dylan’, was dealing drugs at 13 after being recruited by a gang. Speaking to the BBC, he said the “easiest way” for gangs to contact young people is through family and friends.

“Once [that person is] approached, they get the whole friend group,” he said.

“Money is the world – you need that for food, heating, your mum’s debt. That’s your mum not crying.”

  • You can listen to the BBC Surrey interviews here from 2:06:49 (available until June 11 2025)

Children exploited

Ellie told the BBC: “Often children and vulnerable victims don’t realise they’ve been groomed and they are being exploited.

“They might get dragged in by the promise of money, or even the latest trainers.

“They’re attracted to what they perceive, and what those criminals present as, quite a glamorous lifestyle, and nowadays with advances in technology, it’s so much easier to contact young people without even their parents necessarily knowing.

“They’ve got that phone device in their pocket and use things like Snapchat, Instagram, and then they use this whole other language through emojis that parents might not instantly recognise even if they are checking phones.”

OPCC funding

Ellie said the prevention work of organisations like Catch22 is essential.

Young clients do not need to be involved in criminality to access support. Often, children and young people are referred by police, schools and social services because it is feared they are vulnerable to exploitation.

Over the past four years, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has committed almost £400,000 to Music To My Ears. Clients have the opportunity to explore music production, photography, film-making and writing. 

The programme offers voluntary attendance, meaning clients cannot be compelled to attend. However, many continue to work with the programme for months or years. 

New offence

Ellie said: “Many young people who are using Catch22 – which is a brilliant project – they may have committed crime, but they don’t necessarily have to have committed offences to be referred.

“They are at risk.”

The Government has recently introduced a new offence and prevention orders to tackle child criminal exploitation, which will target adults who exploit children into criminal activity.

Ellie told the BBC: “The best thing we can always do for victims, whether it’s children or adults, is stop them becoming victims in the first place.”

Three people stand in a studio. On the left, a man stands with his hands by his sides. Sitting to his left is a young person with his back to the camera. Next, and in the middle of the standing group, is Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, who has her hand on the back of a chair. A woman stands with her hands clasped to Lisa's left hand side.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend, standing second from the right, met the team from Catch22 at their Farnham base in February

PCC hails campaign targeting Guildford ASB following significant drop in weekend crime

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

An 18-month campaign has driven down anti-social behaviour (ASB) at weekends in Guildford through extra police patrols, adverts during the Six Nations – and classical music in takeaways.

A £273,000 grant secured from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has led to significant successes in the Surrey town.

Youth-based ASB at weekends has dropped dramatically thanks to increased visibility of Surrey Police officers on Sundays and a series of initiatives – including ads played during rugby matches and joint work with Guildford Borough Council, Experience Guildford and local businesses, such as fast-food outlets and shops.

One of the initiatives has been playing classical music at restaurants like McDonald’s and covering power outlets to discourage loitering.

Successes in Guildford

Crime in the town’s ASB hotspots has reduced and an improved police presence has meant greater reassurance for people who visit Guildford.

Statistics gathered from Sunday-focused ASB operations show the number of recorded violent crime and public order offences related to weekend youth anti-social behaviour and crime has dropped by over 75 per cent in the past 18 months.

The funding has boosted police officer and street marshal patrols within the town centre and visits to local business, including offering reminders to vape shop owners of their responsibilities to young customers.

Youth engagement remains an ongoing commitment to help break down barriers with young people. While plain-clothed behavioural detection officers patrol stores looking for signs of suspicious behaviour, alerting uniformed colleagues to potential crime.

Dispersal orders have been utilised within the town centre, meaning those causing trouble or behaving in a rowdy, inconsiderate way could be asked to leave the area, and arrested if they return within 48 hours.

A media campaign warning that ASB is not welcome in Guildford has also been screened on ITV, in the Friary Centre and at transport hubs, including the train station and bus stops. The campaign has been viewed more than 10 million times on Snapchat, targeting teenage audiences.

The Safer Streets Fund will not continue into this financial year, but the Commissioner Lisa Townsend said the Force’s determination to deal with offenders has not changed. There will continue to be a visible police officer presence in Guildford at weekends.

Commissioner’s pride

“I know that ASB, criminal damage and substance misuse are key concerns for residents and businesses in Guildford,” the Commissioner said. “Through the Safer Streets Fund, we have acted.

“Across Surrey, we have seen the difference that funding – properly directed by those with real local knowledge – can make to our communities.

“While my office submitted the proposal for Safer Streets, it has been a real team effort, and I’d like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make such a success of this initiative. I am very proud to see how, creatively, this funding has been used to make such an impact in Surrey.”

“Ongoing priority”

Guildford Borough Commander, Inspector Blaine Rafferty said: “The Guildford Safer Streets project has seen us work closely with local partners and businesses over the past 18 months.

“New measures have been rolled out to help tackle ASB in the town centre and the feedback we have received so far is that people who visit Guildford feel safe and reassured seeing uniformed officers out and about.

“We don’t want to discourage young people from coming into Guildford, but it’s important that we communicate the level of acceptable behaviour that is expected.

“Tackling issues like ASB and retail crime remain ongoing priorities for us, and having officers patrolling the streets means we’re here and ready to address any issues as they arise.

“I’m delighted that our partnership work has made an impact in helping to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all, and the Home Office funding has been vital in allowing us to make improvements.”

Visible presence

Lead Councillor for Regulatory and Democratic Services, Councillor Merel Rehorst-Smith, said: “Funding from the Safer Streets initiative allowed us to increase resources in Guildford town centre at weekends to address a growing trend in ASB by young people.

“In partnership with the police, town centre marshals offered a reassuring visible presence as well as engaging with those acting in an anti-social manner.

“The project coincided with a review of the town centre Public Spaces Protection Order, designed to communicate that those behaviours are not acceptable in Guildford. It’s important to us that Guildford town centre is a pleasant place to live, work and do business.”

Pete Lambert, Town Safety and Venue Liaison Manager at Experience Guildford, said: “We have been extremely proud to support the partnership work that has taken place since this project started through Guildford Safer Streets funding.

“There has been a great response to tackling ASB concerns in Guildford town centre and the results are clear to see, with confidence from the business community being restored.”

Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands beside a large blue sign that reads 'Welcome to Surrey Police headquarters'. Her hands are clasped and she is smiling at the camera. Lisa is wearing pink trousers and a green long-sleeved top.

“Back-to-basics policing is the cornerstone”: Commissioner launches new Police and Crime Plan for Surrey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has unveiled a new blueprint for policing in the county over the next three years.

The Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan sets out the priorities she wants Surrey Police to concentrate on during the rest of her current term of office, which ends in 2028.

The Plan features a focus on ‘back to basics’ policing, preventing violence against women and girls, protecting Surrey’s most vulnerable residents, and ensuring the accountability, integrity and wellbeing of the Force’s officers and staff.

It was created following an extensive consultation period where nearly 3,000 residents gave their views, together with community groups, businesses, partners and victims’ services.

Police and Crime Commissioners are required to produce a Police and Crime Plan every four years and it will form the basis upon which Lisa holds the Chief Constable to account for the policing service Surrey Police provide.

Surrey Police is one of the fastest-improving forces in the country having more than doubled its charge rate in the past 12 months, with an additional 3,500 offences prosecuted.

Charges for burglary, assault, retail crime, rape and child abuse have significantly increased, and an additional 2,500 arrests have been made across all crime types.

But the Commissioner said there are challenges ahead. The Force has to find around £18million in savings over the next four years, while criminal justice delays are putting additional pressure on victims’ services.

The Force is also facing increasing demand on ‘hidden’ crime, such as domestic abuse, fraud, and the online exploitation of children, which target some of the most vulnerable people in Surrey.



Force among fastest-improving

Lisa said: “My mission as your Police and Crime Commissioner is clear.

“I want Surrey Police to focus on tackling those crimes that blight our local communities, while also taking persistent offenders off our streets.

“I promised that we would return to a ‘back to basics’ approach to policing, and this pledge forms the cornerstone of my Police and Crime Plan.

“Fighting crime, getting tough on offenders, and protecting Surrey’s most vulnerable residents must be at the heart of the Force’s priorities in the coming years.

“We carried out extensive consultation with residents, community groups, business leaders and victims’ services, as well as hosting 12 in-person and online Policing Your Community events over the autumn and winter.



‘Back to basics’

“I have heard loud and clear what those who live and work in Surrey want to see their policing teams do in our communities and they are making great progress.

“Surrey Police is one of the fastest-improving forces in the country, with 3,500 additional charges across all crime types in 12 months, as well as 2,500 more arrests.

“Charges for some of the crime types that are particularly important to residents, such as child abuse, burglary and retail crime, have dramatically improved.

“It is crucial that this fantastic progress is sustained so we can continue taking the fight to criminals who seek to gain a foothold in our communities.

“Surrey remains a wonderful place in which to live and work, and I am committed to working with the Chief Constable to deliver on the priorities outlined in my Plan.”

155 arrests, 25 years in prison for offenders and 10kg of suspected cocaine seized – Safer Redhill celebrates a year of success

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A YEAR of partnership working in Redhill has led to 25 years in prison for offenders and the seizure of 10kg of suspected cocaine.

Safer Redhill, an initiative designed to cut crime and foster pride in the town, brings together Surrey Police, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and YMCA East Surrey, as well as local business and community partners.

The initiative is supported by funding secured through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, including £265,000 of Safer Streets funding and £58,000 from the Community Safety Fund.

The project adopts the College of Policing’s ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ framework, a three-stage approach where police ‘clear’ offenders from Redhill and work in tandem with interventions from partners to ensure it remains that way.

Campaign’s success

From joint drugs operations at Redhill train station to plain clothed officers deployed at night to spot suspicious behaviour, a huge range of activity has had extensive results, including:

  • 155 arrests for offences including assaults, burglary, drink driving, drug supply and shoplifting
  • 93 charges, of which 81 were charged and remanded
  • A combined prison time of 25 years for local offenders, with many more still to appear for trial
  • Two Criminal Behaviour Orders issued for anti-social behaviour and 80 Community Resolutions issued for offences such as possession of a small quantity of drugs, low value and first time shoplifting offences and minor public order incidents
  • Over £7,000 worth of fines, court costs and victim surcharges issued by the courts
  • 86 drug seizures, including 10kg of suspected cocaine
  • £89,000 cash recovered and weapons taken off the streets
  • 15 vehicles seized and driving disqualification penalties issued that total 8.5 years.

Alongside enforcement activity, the local policing team has built strong relationships within the town, from engaging with students at colleges and holding Meet the Beat sessions to licensing visits with the council’s Joint Enforcement Team.

‘Incredibly proud’

Borough Commander Jon Vale said: “I’m incredibly proud of the efforts of all our partners to address crime in Redhill and help people feel safer in the town.

“It’s a team effort and I’m grateful to all the businesses, organisations and residents who are supporting this project to take pride in Redhill.

“When our communities look at the number of arrests and charges we’ve made over the past year, I want to reassure residents that it’s through the work we’ve been doing that we’re able to seek out and clear this crime from the town.

“Surrey remains one of the safest counties in the UK and our enforcement activities have had a strong impact in Redhill. Since we began our increased police activity, we’ve seen a significant decrease in crimes such as shoplifting, sexual assaults, serious attacks, robbery and anti-social behaviour.”

Safer Redhill aims to have a lasting impact and there is significant work going on to improve the area.

Lasting impact

Local initiatives include solar lighting and a mural designed by young people in Memorial Park, detached youth work by the YMCA and women’s self defence classes by Redhill Boxing Club.

The latest addition to the town will be the installation of two bleed kits by the Safer Redhill partnership, which have been installed next to defibrillators as part of the town’s provision to support people in medical emergencies.

Results from the Force’s regular neighbourhood survey indicate these changes are making a difference, showing an increase in the community’s trust and confidence in the police.

Surrey Police will soon launch a bespoke survey for residents and visitors to Redhill to tell officers where to focus their continued efforts.

Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, at Guildford train station with the Street Angels

20 ambulance call-outs averted each year by the team with pockets full of lollipops – meet the Street Angels

Posted on | by Alex Winter

THOUSANDS of conversations, 20 ambulance calls averted – and 3,500 lollipops handed out.

These are just some of the successes achieved by Guildford’s Street Angel volunteers every year.

The team, managed by Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy, receive a crucial £5,000 grant each year from Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend‘s Community Safety Fund for a coordinator.

And last week, the Commissioner joined a Saturday night shift.

During the evening, Lisa and the team helped a young man who’d had too much to drink, visited the train station to make sure travellers were safe, and picked up glass bottles that could otherwise be used as weapons.

The volunteers give their time once a month between 11pm and 4am on a Friday or Saturday night to provide practical care and support to anyone who may have found themselves in a vulnerable state.

They help those who are intoxicated, homeless, or victims of assault – and are perhaps best-known for their pockets filled with lollipops.

Lisa has often supported the Angels with grants, most recently contributing £500 for volunteer uniforms, first aid kits, emergency blankets and flip-flops.

Volunteers have been giving their time for the past 17 years. The current team of 50 encounter 3,400 people, including 50 homeless people, and pick up more than 3,100 bottles in an average year. During their shifts, they walk around 10,000 steps.

Anyone interested in volunteering is urged to contact the Chaplaincy via their website, gtcc.org.uk/street-angels/

Lisa said: “I’m so proud to support the Street Angels, who make such a positive difference in Guildford.

Meet the Angels

“This evening, we’ve visited the train station, where we know trouble can happen during the evenings. We’ve spoken with door staff at a range of venues around the town and stopped to chat to young people enjoying their night out.

“The Angels all give their time to make sure their community is safe.

“Most people will know them for the lollipops, as well as the flip-flops they give to those who have given up on uncomfortable shoes, but all who encounter the team will remember their kindness and care.

“I’d encourage anyone with an interest to visit the team’s website and sign up for a trial volunteer shift.”

Lisa Townsend, Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner, stands in front of a large building with a Surrey County Council sign on it. She wears a tan coat with red sleeves. Her hands are clasped in front of her and she is looking straight ahead at the camera

Commissioner says Surrey Police will be properly funded to fight crime after council tax rise goes ahead

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said policing teams in Surrey will be properly funded to tackle those crimes important to residents after it was confirmed her proposed council tax rise will go ahead earlier today.

The Commissioner’s suggested 4.3% increase in the policing element of the council tax, known as the precept, was discussed this morning at a meeting of the county’s Police and Crime Panel at Woodhatch Place in Reigate.

The nine members of the Panel present, made up of local councillors and one independent member, voted on the Commissioner’s proposal with four votes in favour and four votes against with one abstention. The Chair of the Panel cast the deciding vote against.

However, there were insufficient votes to veto the proposal and the Panel accepted the Commissioner’s precept will come into effect.

Lisa said Surrey Police are one of the fastest-improving forces in the country and today’s decision means they can continue that momentum over the coming year.

Precept to rise

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.

During January, the Commissioner’s office carried out a public survey in which more than 3,200 people took part and gave their views on the proposed precept increase.

Residents were asked whether they would be prepared to pay the suggested £14 extra a year on their council tax bill. 59% of respondents said they would be willing to pay the £14 increase while 41% voted against it.

The policing element of an average Band D Council Tax bill will now be set at £337.57, an increase of £14 a year or £1.16 a month. It equates to around a 4.3% increase across all council tax bands.

Charge rate doubles

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 which funds the Force together with a grant from central government. 

For every pound of the precept level set, Surrey Police is funded by an extra half a million pounds.

But even with the increase this year, the Commissioner said Surrey Police will still need to find around £18m of savings over the next four years and that she would continue to work with the Force to provide the best value for money for residents.

The Commissioner will shortly launch her new Police and Crime Plan for Surrey for the next three years, the draft of which was also discussed at today’s panel meeting.

The Plan will focus on a more ‘back to basics’ approach which the Commissioner said will concentrate on what policing does best – fighting crime in our local communities, getting tough on offenders and protecting people.

‘Back to basics’

Lisa said while it is great news that Surrey Police are arresting more criminals, delays in the criminal justice system mean that victims are waiting longer for those cases to come to court.

A small proportion of the precept will be used to help fund some of the amazing services in the county that Lisa says “provide truly life-changing support to victims of crime in Surrey”.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Surrey Police has been one of the fastest improving forces in the country over the last year and I am determined to ensure that brilliant progress is sustained.

“That is why it is so vital our policing teams are given the right support and I am delighted that that my precept proposal will go ahead following today’s meeting. 

“The contributions the Surrey public make are absolutely crucial in helping our hard-working officers and staff tackle those crimes I know are so important to people in our local communities.  

“Your views are invaluable”

“Asking the public for more money in the current financial climate is one of the toughest calls I have to make as Police and Crime Commissioner for this county, and it is not a decision I take lightly.

“But I know from speaking to residents at our recent Policing Your Community events how much they value that visible policing presence and getting a swift and effective police response when they need it.

“This was echoed in the comments made in our council tax survey, in which 59% of respondents who took part said they would be willing to pay the increase to support our policing teams over the next year.

“I want to thank everyone who took part and shared their views – they are invaluable for shaping our policing strategies going forward.

“I am currently putting the finishing touches to my new Police and Crime Plan for the county, which will focus on a ‘back to basics’ approach to policing in our communities.

“Today’s decision will mean our officers and staff will be properly supported to continue to take the fight to criminals and deliver on the priorities in that Plan to make our communities even safer for Surrey residents.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson and Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stand next to each other in front of a building with a Surrey County Council sign on it. Both women have their hands clasped in front of them. Ellie, standing on the left, wears a black jumper and red skirt, while Lisa wears a tan coat with red cuffs. Both women are looking straight at the camera.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, on left, and Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, on right, pictured in front of the Surrey County Council HQ at Woodhatch

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

“Fantastic” hub tackling domestic abuse in Surrey will remain open as new funding is secured

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A new service that aims to tackle domestic abuse by working to change the behaviour of perpetrators will continue to be funded, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has announced.

Steps to Change, which draws together experts from a range of organisations focused on violence in the home, opened to clients last year after the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner secured £2million from the last government.

Funding had been due to run out this spring, and Lisa had called on the Labour Government to commit to continued funding for all Surrey organisations.

It has now been confirmed that Home Office funding for the hub, which is managed by Interventions Alliance, will continue until March 2026. The funding will support all three services responsible for delivering Steps to Change interventions – the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership, Interventions Alliance and Waythrough.

The service accepts self-referrals, as well as referrals through social care, GPs, delayed prosecution scheme Checkpoint, and the police.

Service to continue

As well as helping perpetrators to address abuse, experts work with victims, as well as children who are using violence or abusive behaviours.

A range of options are available to those who use the service, including programmes on healthy relationships and interventions for compulsive or obsessive behaviours.

Young people aged between 11 and 18 who access the hub are supported with specialist programmes.

It comes as Surrey Police significantly increases its overall charge rate.

Charges for offences related to violence against women and girls (VAWG), rape and child abuse have doubled, and the Force now among the fastest improving nationally for serious sexual offences and stalking and harassment.

Charges rise

Lisa directly helps fund a number of Surrey-based services, including the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, the Victim and Witness Care Unit, and the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.

Lisa said: “I’m absolutely delighted that this fantastic service will continue to operate.

“As well as supporting survivors of abuse, this hub aims to change the lives of entire families by working with perpetrators to change violent and controlling behaviour for good.

“The service aims to ensure that no one ‘falls through the gap’ because there isn’t appropriate and available provision for them.

“Surrey Police has substantially increased its charging rate for offences specifically targeting women and girls in the past 12 months, and we must be ready to support victims, as well as to directly deal with offending.

“Abuse at home can leave a stain that marks generations, and supporting prevention is vital.”