Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner has unveiled a new mural along an Epsom footpath connecting a train station with one of the county’s largest colleges.
Lisa Townsend contributed to the artwork in Epsom through her Community Safety Fund. The painting was created in response to reports of anti-social behaviour and robbery on the public path connecting Nescot College to Ewell East station.
The mural was designed and painted by Positive Arts in collaboration with art and design students from Nescot.
It features key elements from the college’s 70-year history, including images from old prospectus covers, the Spirit of the Wind image from the old logo, and local flora and fauna.
Artwork unveiled
Lisa said: “It’s really important to me that residents in Surrey are safe in their communities, and that they feel safe too.
“The footpath between Nescot and the Ewell East Train Station was highlighted by residents as a location of concern, and I have meetings about this issue with partners including Surrey Police teams, college leaders and officers from British Transport Police.
“The beautiful mural aims to reclaim this public space, which is used by both students and residents. Improvements to lighting, police patrols and additional private security will also bolster community safety and crime prevention in the area.
“There are seven murals within Epsom and Ewell, each of which helps to foster pride in our communities. I’m delighted to have been able to contribute to the borough’s latest artwork.”
“Foster pride”
Councillor Shanice Goldman, who chairs the council’s Crime and Disorder Committee, said: “This community mural is a fantastic example of how multiple partners can work together for the betterment of the community.
“It is also a valuable step forward in combatting anti-social behaviour by rejuvenating an unloved, run down part of the borough and instilling a sense of pride and ownership of the area in the students.”
“The council has commissioned a number of murals across the borough as part of our Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy over the past year, and these have already had a positive impact on reducing anti-social behaviour, such as reducing graffiti tagging.
“I hope this latest mural will achieve similar results.”
OVER the past six years, staff and volunteers at a Camberley charity have helped ex-offenders get back into work, provided a safe home for rough sleepers – and cooked up an astonishing 27,000 hot meals.
Between April 2024 and March 2025 alone, the Hub has:
Supported 269 people, 198 of whom struggle with their mental health
Housed 98 of the 102 rough sleepers it has supported in that timeframe
Provided more than 5,000 meals
Delivered 776 food parcels to Surrey Heath residents in need of support
Helped 222 people with debt management
Secured employment for 14 people
The charity also manages a seven-bedroom home in Camberley where rough sleepers are provided with short-term accommodation of between six and eight weeks.
Support for those in need
Staff offer both practical and pastoral support, including the use of washing machines, dryers and warm showers, as well as training courses and classes in cooking, money management and how to pay for utilities.
In addition, each Christmas the charity dedicates funding to ensuring everyone in need has accommodation for the festive period, as well as a Christmas dinner and useful, practical gifts.
When a client needs medical care, staff also visit hospitals with them.
“Without fanfare, staff and volunteers are changing the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents for the better.
“This tireless work means that, even when a person has complex needs or a challenging background, they don’t fall through the gaps between services.
“Almost 50 per cent of the Hub’s clients are ex-offenders who need support to re-enter the workforce. These are people who, with help, can stay out of the criminal justice system for good.
“Goosebumps”
“During my visit, I met with a member of the team who helps clients train for employment. She told me that her work developing skills and building confidence gives her ‘goosebumps’ – a feeling I experienced as I listened to her speak.
“Reducing reoffending is a key priority for me, and it matters to every single Surrey resident.
“I am delighted to be able to contribute to The Hope Hub’s ongoing successful work.”
THIS is the secret garden where children and young people who are suffering with their mental health can speak to experts.
Charity Eikon, which is based in the grounds of Fullbrook School, New Haw, aims to prevent young people from getting to crisis point.
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, has recently awarded £20,000 from her Community Safety Fund towards the first year of the organisation’s Family Wellbeing Service.
Those who need extra help from Eikon’s 100 staff and volunteers are invited to the garden, which has transformed from an overgrown, unused plot into an idyllic landscaped park.
Secret garden
The redesign was organised by a teenage student, who came to the charity for help when she was being bullied. After she asked to sit outside, but was unable to, she was offered the opportunity to lead the project.
Eikon also recruited a horticulturalist from RHS Wisley to design the grounds, which now feature vegetable beds, carved sculptures, a winding pathway and a pond complete with a bridge.
It is believed that one in five young people in Surrey are struggling with their mental health, which contributes to issues including substance misuse and higher levels of youth-related crime and disorder.
Commissioner’s pride
The Commissioner said: “I have been proud to support Eikon through my Community Safety Fund on several occasions.
“The staff and volunteers at this fantastic charity change the lives of children and young people before they can get to crisis point.
“Their approach is based in pragmatism – in this age of technology and social media, it’s more important than ever that we find ways to let our children be children.
“Poor mental health, family dysfunction and school absences can impact overall community safety, and children who are vulnerable in this way are more likely to fall victim to exploitation.
“Intervening before a child is in danger is crucial, and I am glad I’m able to contribute to Eikon’s success.”
“A safe and relaxing place”
Mr Hickford said: “All those who work in mental health support services will be seeing increasing numbers of people seeking support, and Eikon is no exception.
“Our findings are that this increase is driven by poverty, tension within family dynamics, pressures in the education system, and global factors, including climate change.
“Another big factor is the online world, which can feature bullying, harmful comparison and extreme pornography, and lead to severe isolation. Troublingly, around 27 per cent of children aged three to four are now believed to have a mobile phone.
“Our aim is to give parents, carers, children and schools the tools they need to build confidence and thrive.
“Our garden is a safe and relaxing place for anyone in need of support. We look forward to launching our Family Wellbeing Service thanks to contributors like Lisa.”
Summer may just be coming to an end, but if you’re anything like Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, yule already be thinking about Christmas.
Lisa Townsend and her Deputy, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, are today launching their annual Christmas competition – and they’re looking for a brilliant young artist to design their festive cards.
Children working with any of Surrey’s youth services are invited to put pen, pencil or paintbrush to A4 paper and submit their creative ho-ho-holiday designs by Friday, 31st October 2025.
This year’s theme is ‘Christmas in Surrey’. The winner will receive a £100 Amazon voucher, and their design will be sent to MPs, leaders in public service and charitable sectors, local councillors – and even the Prime Minister.
Any child or young person involved with a Surrey youth service can enter the competition. That includes those who:
Attend any youth club or project in the county
Require additional SEND support
Are members of any YMCA programme
Have received help from Mindworks Surrey
Are involved in any youth-based organisation, such as the Surrey Youth Cabinet
It also includes those involved with organisations that the Commissioner and her team help to fund.
These include mental health charity Eikon, Catch22, an organisation supporting young people at risk of criminal exploitation, and the Surrey Youth Commission, which allows its members to have their say on crime and policing issues.
“The most wonderful time”
Lisa, who helps to fund a range of organisations through her Children and Young People’s Fund, said: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year when Ellie and I choose our winner for the annual Christmas card competition.
“I’d urge everyone involved with any of Surrey’s youth services to create a design for us.
“We are very excited to see this year’s entries.”
It’s the fourth time the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner have opened a competition to Surrey’s young people.
In previous years, children supported by services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner were asked to submit their designs.
In 2022, a girl supported by domestic abuse charity I Chose Freedom was the winner, and the following year, a young person who attends Catch-22’s Music To My Ears Programme submitted the winning design.
Ellie, who has responsibility for the office’s focus on children and young people and leads the Surrey Youth Commission, said: “The Commissioner and I look forward to this competition throughout the year.
“I encourage all Surrey residents to share this competition widely.
“The standard of entries has been consistently high for the past four years, and we’re sure to see some brilliant artworks in 2025 too.”
How to enter
Paper pictures sent by post are preferred. Pictures can also be accepted via email, although the original must be supplied if requested by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Postal entries should be addressed to: The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, 3, The Drive, Sandy Lane, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1HE.
You’ll need to include your name, age, the details of a parent or guardian’s name, and a contact number or email address so we can ask for permission to use your design.
SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, has welcomed a 4.2 per cent pay rise for police officers in England and Wales.
The Government last week accepted recommendations from the Police Remuneration Review Body to increase the pay award for all ranks, up to and including Chief Superintendent.
Many police forces, including Surrey, had budgeted for a 2.8 per cent increase in police officer wages for this year, and the Government has said it will provide an additional £120million grant nationally to meet the additional cost. It is not yet known how much of the grant will be allocated for Surrey.
There is no confirmation yet if that grant will continue to be made to forces in future years.
The Commissioner said: “Our police teams in Surrey routinely put themselves in harm’s way to protect residents. They run towards incidents that others run from to keep communities safe.
“I am delighted with the news that the Government is recognising the amazing job they do. This increase in pay is the least they deserve for their professionalism, dedication and service.
“I would also like to pay tribute to the work of police staff, whose increase will not be funded by the Government, but who are no less deserving.
“Scenes of crime investigators, 999 and 101 call-takers, PCSOs, dog handlers and designated detention officers are all examples of police staff roles, and their value to Surrey Police cannot be overstated.
“While the £120m grant is welcome to help us meet the additional cost of the pay award, it does not factor in other costs, including pensions and overtime.
“It is no secret that policing is under significant financial pressure and rising demand.
“Here in Surrey, we are poorly-served by the funding formula and receive the lowest level of Government grant in England.
Call to Government
“Our residents contribute 55 per cent of the total cost of policing through council tax, while the remaining 45 per cent is provided as a grant.
“I am now calling on the Government to confirm that it will commit to funding this pay increase in future years
“This funding settlement must be sustainable, or in the longer-term Surrey Police and other forces may face challenges that impact the delivery of both policing and financial planning.
“Policing in Surrey and around the country is becoming ever more complex. I remain committed to ensuring our officers and staff can meet that challenge.”
Warrants were then carried out at addresses linked to Brewer and his group at addresses in Redhill, Reigate and Crawley. Vehicles linked to the group were also stopped, including a BMW being driven by Maria Rivas Santos, 32.
The BMW, which was forcibly stopped by armed officers as it travelled through London, had a further five kilograms of cocaine in a laundry bag in the boot.
Another stop resulted in the arrest of Michael White, 54, suspected of being a courier for the group. He was found with a carrier bag containing quarter of a kilo of cocaine stuffed in his underwear.
Clockwise from top left, Michael White, Maria Rivas Santos, Craig Brewer and Chris Brewer
Safer Redhill success
Christopher Brewer’s older brother, Craig, 38, was also arrested for conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs. Wraps of cocaine were found on his person, and a further 29 grams of cocaine was found at his home, where attempts had been made to flush some of the drugs down the toilet. Around £10,000 in cash was also found at the address.
Evidence also showed Christopher Brewer had previously purchased an additional 15kg of cocaine from a Liverpool-based crime group.
At the time of the arrests, which were made following an investigation by Surrey Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), officers and partners including the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and the YMCA had launched the Safer Redhill partnership.
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.
It has resulted in a significant decrease across many crime types. 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.
Last week, Brewer, Brewer, White and Santos were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court after admitting the charges against them.
Christopher Brewer, from Reigate, was sentenced to 11 years, six months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, two years, to be served concurrently, for conspiracy to acquire/use/possess criminal property, and six months, to be served concurrently, for perverting the course of justice.
Craig Brewer, from Redhill, was sentenced to six years, five months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and 12 months, to be served concurrently, for conspiracy to acquire/use/possess criminal property.
Michael White, from Crawley, was sentenced to five years, three months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, and nine months, to be served concurrently, for conspiracy to acquire/use/possess criminal property.
Maria Rivas Santos, from Liverpool, was sentenced to four years, eight months in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
Cocaine seized
Detective Constable Matt Earl, from Surrey Police’s SOCU, said: “Through the hard work and perseverance our SOCU team, supported by colleagues from various teams within Surrey Police as well as the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, were able to catch them in the act.
“Now, not only are they in jail, but 10kg of cocaine is off our streets and out of our communities hitting organised criminals where it hurts the most – in their pockets.”
Inspector Jon Vale, Borough Commander for Reigate and Banstead, said: “I know the police activity at addresses in Redhill, Reigate and Horley in May last year caused some concern amongst local residents.
“But I hope it also reassures people we are working hard to flush out criminals from our midst and have an on-going commitment to keeping our towns safe places to live and work.
“Drugs destroy communities”
“This is not just about taking drugs off the streets; drugs destroy communities by contributing to rises in other offences like violence and even untimely deaths.
“Tackling those who proliferate their use has a positive impact on the whole area and continues to be a priority for us.”
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 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.
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.
“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.”
A building in Memorial Park has been given a makeover with a graffiti-style mural
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
Commissioner Lisa Townsend, standing second from the right, met the team from Catch22 at their Farnham base in February
