Category: Funding

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson with a design student

Camberley student lands dream job after leading rebrand of our Office

Posted on | by James Smith

IN 2022, local graphic design student Jack Dunlop won a competition launched by Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Ellie Vesey-Thompson, winning a work placement with leading designers Akiko Design.

During a week-long internship in Bramley, Jack developed the concept that was used to create our new branding, and continues to boost awareness of the key role that the Commissioner and our team play in representing the voice of local people on policing.

Akiko were so impressed with Jack’s work that he has now become the latest addition to their team, following the completion of his studies at the University for Creative Arts in Farnham.

Providing more opportunities for children and young people is a key part of Ellie‘s focus in Surrey, which includes dedicated funding for services that help young people to stay safe and thrive.

During the placement, she worked closely with Jack to develop and present his ideas to our team.

Ellie said: “I couldn’t be prouder that Jack’s experience through our office has helped him to hit the ground running in a really exciting career.

“I was incredibly impressed with Jack’s creativity, enthusiasm, and the diligence and commitment he brought to the redesign of our brand. I hope that he will take immense pride in knowing that his vision and branding plays an important and visible role in the work that we carry out with Surrey Police and partners right across the county.

“We are very proud of our new look thanks to Jack’s hard work alongside Akiko.”

Since starting with Akiko in December, Jack has been working on several projects, from improving the design of an existing client’s website to image preparation for a large website set to launch this January.  Jack is also going to be heavily involved in the work on a new website Akiko has recently won the contract for.

He said: “During the second year of my graphic design degree, I won a competition to design the new logo for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, from which arose the opportunity to have a week’s work experience at Akiko.

“A year later, I am a full time designer with them! Woohoo!”

Craig Denford, Creative Director at Akiko Design, directly supported Jack during his time with Akiko.

He said: “When Jack came in for the week placement last year I was really impressed by his ability and his work ethic. Having seen his college portfolio he clearly has a lot of talent, which I would always place above experience/qualifications. Since joining he’s been very quick to learn the packages needed and I already feel I can trust him to do a good job with larger projects. He’ll be an invaluable member of the team I’m sure.”

Read about Jack’s experience, or learn more about our funding for local services.

room full of seated women at a wooden table discussing victim care in Surrey. Flipchart paper is visible with notes made in group work during the workshop.

Commissioner unites partners with shared commitment to victims in Surrey

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend welcomed services from across the county to the Surrey Police HQ in November, as organisations funded by her office came together to discuss improvements to the care that victims of crime receive. 
 
The event is the first time that most of the chief executives and advisors from victim services in Surrey had come together in-person since before the Covid-19 pandemic. During the day, they worked with members of the Commissioner’s office to explore the challenges and opportunities that they face when supporting individuals affected by offences including sexual violence and domestic violence, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation.

Funding local services is a key part of the Commissioner’s role in Surrey, that has made over £3m available for victim services in 2023/24. Core funding from her office pays for counselling and helplines, Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and Independent Domestic Abuse Advisors, awareness campaigns and specialist support for children and young people, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities and those affected by modern slavery. 
 
In the last year, the PCC’s team have secured additional funds from the Home Office, that have been used to set up a new ‘Steps to Change’ hub that will act as a gateway to interventions for anyone demonstrating abusive behaviours, and a landmark project of early-doors education to specifically help prevent violence against women and girls. Educating all school-age children benefits the whole of society. 
 
The workshop included representatives from Surrey Police’s dedicated Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU), Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s STARS Service, Innovating Minds, East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, the YMCA’s What is Sexual Exploitation? (WiSE) Service, Justice and Care, the county’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) and Hourglass (safer aging). 
 
Throughout the day, they spoke about the increasing complexity of victim care and the pressures on services to meet increasing demand for their support with limited resources.  

The event also included a specific focus on how the Commissioner’s Office can help – by enabling connections between different organisations, advocating at national level and continuing a shift to funding that goes beyond a typical yearly contract. 

Meg Harper from modern slavery organisation Justice and Care said short term funding made it harder to plan for the future, by risking the momentum that vital colleagues are able to build year on year. 

Daisy Anderson, CEO of RASASC, said there was also a need to amplify the message that services support people of all backgrounds and needs in Surrey. Funding from the Commissioner’s Office provided 37% of RASASCs core funding in 2022/23. 

The workshop follows the appointment of new Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove this October, and comes as a new Victims and Prisoners Bill makes it way through Parliament. 

Feedback from the meeting is now being analysed and will feed into plans for ensuring local organisations receive the best possible support in the new financial year.  

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “My office funds a wide range of work by victim services in Surrey, that often work in an incredibly complicated and pressured environment to provide the best possible care to survivors. 
 
“I am really proud of the strong partnership with the organisations we support in Surrey, but it is important that we continue to listen and identify the challenges they face. The workshop provided a forum for frank conversations across different areas of care and shared a huge wealth of knowledge with a focus on long-term solutions. 

“These conversations are vital as they make a tangible difference when an individual experiences a crime. Such as knowing who they can turn to, less time waiting and support from specialists that are part of a network that looks out for them too.” 
 
A list of support services available to victims in Surrey is available here.

Anyone affected by a crime can contact Surrey’s dedicated Victim and Witness Care Unit on 01483 639949 or visit https://victimandwitnesscare.org.uk for more information. Support and advice is available to every victim of a crime in Surrey regardless of when the offence occurred.

For further information about ‘Steps to Change’ or to discuss making a referral, please contact: enquiries@surreystepstochange.com

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner secures £1m in government funding for projects to improve safety in three Surrey towns

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

Three communities in Surrey are set to receive a huge boost to their safety after Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend secured nearly £1m in the latest round of the government’s Safer Streets funding.

Projects in Walton, Redhill and Guildford will benefit from the Home Office cash after it was announced today that the proposals submitted for the county earlier this year by the Commissioner’s office have been successful.

Lisa said a number of planned measures will make all areas safer places to live and hailed the announcement as fantastic news for residents in those communities.

The grant is part of the fifth round of Safer Streets funding which has so far seen over £120m shared across England and Wales for projects to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and make areas safer for women and girls.

£1m safety boost

Three bids totalling £992,232 were submitted by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office after working together with Surrey Police and borough and district council partners to identify areas most in need of investment and support.

The projects will now benefit from around £330,000 each and will be further boosted by an additional £720,000 in match funding from partners involved.

In Walton Town and Walton North, the money will be used to tackle anti-social behaviour in public spaces, which includes everything from drug dealing and taking to vandalism and littering.

Extra CCTV will be installed and youth outreach programmes will be launched while the funding will also pay for security measures in the Drewitts Court car park, such as speed bumps, anti-climb paint and motion-sensor lighting. Improvements will also be made to the community garden at the St John’s estate.

In Redhill, the funding will focus on the town centre with measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. It’ll pay for a Safe Space Hut as well as YMCA outreach activities for young people in the town, community engagement and an information campaign on anti-social behaviour.

Those in Guildford identified theft, criminal damage, assault and substance misuse as some of the key issues affecting their town centre. The funding will be used for street marshal patrols, youth engagement events and a multimedia stand that will beam up-to-date safety information to residents and visitors.

Previous Safer Streets funding has supported other similar projects across the county including in Woking, Stanwell, Godstone and Bletchingley, Epsom, Addlestone and Sunbury Cross.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Safer Streets is a fantastic initiative that is making a real difference to our communities in Surrey so I am delighted that three more of our towns are set to benefit from this £1m funding.

‘Fantastic initiative’

“Our residents regularly tell me they want to see anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood crime being tackled so this is really great news for those living and working in those areas.

“Whilst it is my office that submits the proposal to the Home Office, it is a real team effort together with Surrey Police and our colleagues in the borough and district councils to secure this funding which goes such a long way to improving safety for our residents.

“I will ensure my office continues to work with our partners to identify other areas that could benefit from this extra funding in the future.”

‘Delighted’

Ali Barlow, Surrey Police’s T/Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for local policing, said: “I’m delighted that these bids were successful as we’ve seen through previous funding what a difference this support can make.

“Our neighbourhood policing teams already work closely with local authorities and other services to identify areas of concern in our communities and take appropriate action and this will only assist them further.

“The initiatives that are planned for Guildford, Redhill and Walton will help residents to be safe and feel safe as well as improve our public spaces which is something everyone will benefit from.”

Key interventions

Cllr Rod Ashford, Executive Member for Communities, Leisure and Culture at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said: “This is good news.

“The Council is committed to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls. We hope that this funding will go a long way in helping us continue the good work we are doing with the police and wider partners to improve community safety in Redhill.”

Councillor Bruce McDonald, Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council: “This is a great opportunity to address anti-social behaviour in Walton-on-Thames from crime prevention through environmental design to supporting young people and parents.

“We look forward to working together with a range of partners to deliver these key interventions.”

Staff of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey taking part in the Amber Hike the Hill event

Commissioner’s team ‘Hike the Hill’ to raise money for key service supporting young homeless people

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

A team from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office has taken part in charity hike to the highest point in Surrey to raise money for a key service supporting homeless young people.

A number of PCC staff, including the Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, joined organisers and young people from the Amber Foundation in completing the 10km route last weekend at Leith Hill near Dorking.

Amber are a fantastic organisation who transform the lives of young people by providing them with temporary accomodation and a programme of support to help them get their lives back on track.

They support young people aged from 17 to 30 by providing a shared home with a community of around 30 others. Staff there deliver a programme of training and activities based around accommodation, employment and health and wellbeing.

The Commissioner’s office provides funding for three beds at their centre near Ockley through its dedicated Reducing Reoffending Fund and the aim of the hike was to raise money to help towards paying for another bed space.

It’s not too late to donate – you can support Amber here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/hikethehill23

A back injury meant the Commissioner Lisa Townsend had to sit out the hike but she was there to cheer on everyone who completed the hike at the finishing line.

She had previously paid a visit to the Amber centre a few weeks ago to meet some of the fantastic team and hear about some of the young people they support.

Lisa said: “Sadly, many young people who have experienced childhood trauma or escaped domestic violence or a difficult situation at home can find themselves with nowhere to live.

“Sleeping on sofas or in hostels can often mean they struggle to find work or maintain education which can have a devastating effect on their self-confidence and mental health.

“This sadly all too often results in them drifting into substance or alcohol abuse and crime and it can be a vicious spiral that is hard to break.

“Reducing reoffending is a really important focus for my office and I strongly believe if the right services are offered to young people whose lives may have gone off track – we can steer them away from criminality meaning the communities in which they live will also benefit.

“Nearly three quarters of those who move on from Amber have managed to go to independent, safe housing with a job or back into education which is an amazing statistic

“That is why I am delighted to support this brilliant event which I hope can help Amber go even further in having such a positive impact on young people’s lives.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend smiling on sunny day next to sign that says Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Surrey Commissioner celebrates two years with £9million funding announcement

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner is celebrating two years in the job with the news that her team has secured almost £9million for key services around the county since her election.

Since Lisa Townsend was elected in 2021, her office has helped fund vital projects that support vulnerable victims of sexual and domestic abuse, reduce violence against women and girls and prevent crime in local communities across Surrey.

Members of Lisa’s Commissioning team are responsible for the dedicated funding streams that aim to increase community safety, reduce re-offending, support young people and help victims to cope and recover from their experiences.

Over the last two years that team have also successfully bid for millions of pounds of extra funding from government pots to support services and charities around the county.

In total, just under £9m has been secured, which the Commissioner says has made a real difference to the lives of people across Surrey.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend is celebrating two years since her election with a huge funding announcement

The Commissioner has her own budget drawn from the precept part of Surrey taxpayers’ council tax. Members of her commissioning team also bid for Government funding pots, which are used in their entirety to support projects and charities around the county.

Over the past two years, almost £9million in additional funding has been granted to support agencies working in victim support, sexual abuse, reducing reoffending, fraud and a range of other issues.

This includes:

Elsewhere, Surrey Police now has more officers than ever before following the government’s Operation Uplift. In total, the Force now has an additional 395 officers through a combination of Uplift funding and council tax contributions from the Surrey oublic – 136 more than the 259 target set by the government.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend with Surrey Police officers on electric bikes along the Woking Canal on a sunny day

In April, the Commissioner also welcomed Surrey Police’s new Chief Constable, Tim De Meyer, who was appointed following a thorough interview process earlier this year.

In order to ensure complete transparency with Surrey residents on policing matters, Lisa launched a dedicated Data Hub in February – becoming the first Police and Crime Commissioner to do so. The Hub includes information on emergency and non-emergency response times and the outcomes against specific offences, including burglary, domestic abuse and road safety offences. It also provides more information on Surrey Police’s budget and staffing.

£9m funding boost

But Lisa has acknowledged there are challenges facing the Force and Surrey’s residents, highlighting the work that remains to be done to retain officers and staff during the cost of living crisis.

There are also challenges for policing nationally to rebuild trust with communities and to support victims and witnesses of crime entering the criminal justice system.

Lisa said: “The last two years have flown by, but so far I have loved every minute of being Commissioner for this county.

“People often focus on the ‘crime’ side of being a Police and Crime Commissioner, but it is really important that we do not forget the amazing work my office does on the ‘commissioning’ side.

“We have helped support some vital projects and services across the county that provide a real lifeline for some of our most vulnerable residents.

‘Just fantastic’

“They really do make a huge difference to a wide range of people in Surrey whether that be tackling anti-social behaviour in one of our communities or supporting a victim of domestic abuse in refuge who has nowhere else to turn.

“To secure nearly £9m in funding over the last two years is just fantastic and I am so proud of the hard work of my team – much of which happens behind the scenes.

“It is going to be an exciting but challenging next year ahead for policing in Surrey, but I am delighted to welcome the new Chief Constable who will take over a Force which is now the biggest it has ever been after the recruitment target was exceeded.

“I really hope that once these new officers are trained and serving our communities that our residents will see reap the benefits for years to come.

“As always, I look forward to speaking with members of the public and continuing to hear their views on policing so that we can continue to improve our service for the people of Surrey.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and colleagues in sunny outside photo

Commissioner secures £2m in government funding for new Domestic Abuse Hub in Surrey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A major £2million project to tackle domestic abuse and stalking in Surrey has been given the green light following a successful bid for government funding by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

The Home Office perpetrator funding was secured by Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s team as part of a national programme to provide support to those responsible for harmful behaviour with the aim of helping change the way they think and behave.

The funding, spread over the next two years, will be used to create a Domestic Abuse Hub which will be open to any adult in Surrey and give participants the skills to be able to make positive, long-lasting changes in their lives.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend, third from left, with commissioning team Louise Andrews, left, Lisa Herrington, second from left, and Lucy Thomas, right

It will be made up of a team of ‘intervention navigators’ who will be experts from a range of specialist services. They will provide support to adults and children affected by the individual’s harmful behaviour, helping them to feel safe, able to cope and heal from their experiences.  

There will also be specially tailored support for young people who may be using violence in their own young relationships or towards their parents or carers.

The Hub will work together with other agencies across the county to help those who have been abusers to address compulsive and obsessive behaviours and help protect all victims far earlier.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “This is really great news – my team have worked incredibly hard to secure this funding, which I believe will make a significant difference to the lives of many people in Surrey.

‘Great news’

“Reducing violence against women and girls is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and my commitment in Surrey is to work with our partners to create a county that is not only safe for all residents, but feels safe too.

“This initiative allows services to move away from a reactive approach – where an incident has already happened – to a more proactive system. This work will involve entire families and improve access to specialist services for those who may otherwise have no way of reaching out for help.

“It will also unite the organisations and charities already doing such fantastic work in this area so we can deliver a service that supports all who are in need.

“We know that working with those responsible for abusive and harmful behaviour can heighten the risk to those whose lives they have affected. This funding allows us to manage that risk far more effectively.”

Last year, Lisa announced a successful bid for a £1m Home Office grant to challenge violence and abuse. The grant has been used to fund teacher training and a public campaign to help children and young people.

Funding boost

She also recently secured £175,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund to improve safety for women and girls using the Basingstoke Canal in Woking. The project claimed a prestigious Tilley Award at a ceremony in October.

Surrey Police‘s Domestic Abuse Lead, Detective Superintendent Amy Buffoni, said: “We are delighted the Police and Crime Commissioner has secured this funding, which will help us in providing effective interventions, focused on offending behaviour.

“The new hub will be staffed with skilled and experienced domestic abuse staff, navigating individuals into programmes which are specifically designed to enhance the safety of survivors.

“They will ensure we hold individuals accountable and responsible for their behaviour, while treating them with respect, and offering opportunities for lasting change.”

‘Vile crimes’

Safeguarding Minister Sarah Dines said: “Domestic abuse and stalking are vile crimes which cause victims to feel terror in their own homes and communities, where they should feel their safest.

“It is unacceptable and this government is determined to protect people from this horrific abuse.

“We know that intervention schemes like these are a crucial means of protecting victims, which is why we are investing millions in helping police identify abusive behaviour and stop it from escalating or happening again.”

  • Anyone in need of advice or support will be able to contact the Hub directly, and the service’s phone number will be shared across a number of services, including in Surrey schools. The Hub will also accept referrals from Surrey Checkpoint, a deferred prosecution scheme for lower-level offences that aims to reduce reoffending, as well as a range of other organisations, including local authorities and drug and alcohol abuse support services.
group photo of 27 Surrey teachers and staff of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey in a training room, after almost one million pounds in funding is provided to provide bespoke training and a campaign to educate children and young people about violence against women and girls

Teachers from 27 Surrey schools join first-ever fully-funded teacher training to tackle violence against women and girls

Posted on | by Alex Winter

TEACHERS from 27 Surrey schools have attended the first in a series of training days that have been fully-funded thanks to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The programme, which launched last week, will support and empower teachers to build self-confidence in children during Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) lessons, with the aim of enabling them to live safe and fulfilled lives.

It comes after Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s team secured almost £1million from the Home Office’s What Works Fund to help combat violence against women and girls in Surrey through a series of projects for children and young people.

The issue is a key priority in Lisa’s Police and Crime Plan.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson speaks at the first PSHE training session

The funding will work to achieve this ambition by delivering a series of projects for children and young people.

Last week, teachers joined partners from Surrey Police and domestic abuse services for the first of three days of training to support Surrey County Council’s Healthy Schools approach.

The sessions, led by Sarah Lyles, Surrey County Council’s lead for PSHE, Wellbeing and Healthy Schools, and PSHE trainer Joanna Feast of company Clean Well-Being, aim to strengthen PSHE teaching skills through evidence-based and trauma-informed training as part of a society-wide effort to prevent harm to children.

Funding achieved by Lisa’s team will cover all programme materials and certification, training venues in Surrey, refreshments and lunch, as well as £180 a day for participating schools towards supply cover for the full three days.

Sessions are funded by the Home Office thanks to a grant application by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who has responsibility for children and young people on the Commissioner’s behalf, attended the first session in Guildford.

She said: “As trusted adults who spend a substantial amount of time with young people at a key time in their development, teachers are an integral part of supporting our young people and tackling violence against women and girls.

“That’s why this training, which will give educators the confidence to discuss issues such as respectful relationships and sexual health, is so important.

“It also helps schools build networks with helpful organisations across Surrey, including those that are dedicated to supporting survivors of abuse. This will ensure greater unity across the system.

“The direct impact of these sessions is that teachers will be empowered to encourage young people to see their own value.

‘So important’

“I hope, in turn, that this positive message will help them lead fulfilling, safe lives, with the resilience they need to thrive.”

Funding for the training, which is backed by Surrey Domestic Abuse Services, the YMCA’s WiSE (What is Sexual Exploitation) programme and the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, is in place until 2025, and teachers from the first cohort will return for their second session in May. In total, around 100 schools will benefit.

For more information, or to sign your school up for the second cohort, visit Fully Funded PSHE Training Programme for Surrey Schools | Surrey Education Services (surreycc.gov.uk)

Online virtual training will become available for all Surrey teachers to access.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson with representatives of Eikon Charity in front of graffiti wall with word Eikon

Deputy Commissioner visits young people’s charity helping parents start conversations about online safety

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson has visited a charity dedicated to supporting young people in Surrey as the organisation launches seminars on internet safety.

The Eikon Charity, which has offices at Fullbrook School in Addlestone, provides long-term advice and care to children and young people who need emotional and wellbeing support.

In recent weeks, parents and carers have been invited to join online seminars that will help them build the confidence to have conversations with children about keeping safe online. A free guide is also available, which has been downloaded by families around the world.

The new initiative marks the latest addition to the charity’s offerings. Eikon, which accepts both self-referrals and referrals from Mindworks – formerly known as Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – works in schools and communities across seven Surrey boroughs.

Youth support practitioners from Eikon are based in five schools as part of the Smart Schools programme, while early intervention co-ordinators are embedded in three boroughs. The charity also trains youth mentors – or Head Smart Wellbeing Ambassadors – to support their peers.

The charity has seen increasing demand from young people suffering with their mental health as a result of the pandemic.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson with representatives of Eikon Charity in front of graffiti wall with word Eikon



Ellie said: “The safety of our children and young people online is an ever growing concern, and keeping them safe is everyone’s responsibility.

“While the internet and other advances in technology undoubtedly bring many benefits, it also provides means for perpetrators to exploit young people for unthinkable intentions, including online grooming and child sexual abuse.

“I was really pleased to hear from Eikon about their work to support and advise parents and carers on keeping children and young people safe online through their seminars and other resources.

“Anyone can sign up for free to learn more about how to keep young people as safe as possible when they’re online.

“The Commissioner and I, along with our whole team, are dedicated to supporting the county’s children. Last year, the team successfully bid for £1million of Home Office funding, which will be used primarily to educate young people on the harms of violence against women and girls.

“This money will be used to harness the power of young people through their Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) lessons. It will also pay for a separate campaign aimed at creating a cultural shift in the entrenched attitudes that lead to this type of criminality, and to support a number of charities that help survivors of violence.

“I’m really pleased to see that organisations such as Eikon are offering other brilliant resources, such as these parent seminars, that complement these new plans. All of us working together and offering support to children and young people, as well as parents and carers, is key to keeping our young people safe.”

Caroline Blake, Schools Programme Coordinator for Eikon, said: “Supporting Safer Internet Day – which has the theme ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about online life’ – has allowed us as Eikon to raise the profile of how important it is to connect with our children and young people about their online activity.

“In an ever-evolving world, our guide offers easy-to-follow, practical tips on how to support families to learn from each other and create healthy habits and conversations about their online usage.”

For more information on Eikon, visit eikon.org.uk.

You can also access Eikon’s webinars and obtain the free guide by visiting eikon.org.uk/safer-internet-day/

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson and the OPCC Community Safety Lead

Deputy Commissioner launches first-ever Surrey Youth Commission as members discuss mental health, drug abuse and knife crime

Posted on | by Alex Winter

YOUNG people from Surrey have drawn up a list of priorities for the police at the first-ever meeting of a new Youth Commission.

The group, which is fully funded by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, will help shape the future of crime prevention in the county.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson is to oversee meetings throughout the nine-month scheme.

At the inaugural meeting on Saturday, January 21, members aged between 14 and 21 developed a list of crime and policing issues that matter to them and affect their lives. Mental health, drink and drug awareness, road safety and relationships with the police were highlighted.

Over the course of coming meetings, members will choose the priorities they want to work on before consulting with 1,000 other young people across Surrey.

Their findings will be presented in a final conference during the summer.

Ellie, who is the youngest Deputy Commissioner in the country, said: “I have wanted to establish a proper way to bring youth voice into policing in Surrey since my first day as Deputy Commissioner and I’m so proud to be involved in this brilliant project.

“This has been in the planning for some time and it is so exciting to meet the young people at their very first meeting.

young persons hand writing on a sheet showing a diagram of ideas for the Surrey Youth Commission, next to a copy of the Police and Crime Plan for the county.


“Part of my remit is to engage with children and young people around Surrey. It’s crucial that their voices are heard. I am dedicated to helping young and underrepresented people get involved in issues that have a direct impact on them.

“The first meeting of the Surrey Youth Commission proves to me that we should feel enormously positive about the generation of young people who are beginning to make their mark on the world.

“Every member stepped forward to share their experiences, and they all came up with some fantastic ideas to take forward in future meetings.”

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey awarded a grant to not-for-profit organisation Leaders Unlocked to deliver the Commission after Ellie decided to launch a peer-led youth group.

One of Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s top priorities in her Police and Crime Plan is to strengthen the relationships between Surrey Police and the county’s residents.

‘Fantastic ideas’

Leaders Unlocked has already delivered 15 other commissions across England and Wales, with young members choosing to focus on topics including hate crime, drug abuse, abusive relationships and rates of re-offending.

Kaytea Budd-Brophy, Senior Manager at Leaders Unlocked, said: “It’s vital that we engage young people in the conversation about issues that affect their lives.

“We’re delighted to be granted the opportunity to develop a peer-led Youth Commission project in Surrey.

“This is a really exciting project for young people aged between 14 and 25 to get involved in.”

For more information, or to join the Surrey Youth Commission, email Emily@leaders-unlocked.org or visit surrey-pcc.gov.uk/funding/surrey-youth-commission/

Police and Commissioner Lisa Townsend with Surrey Police officers from the fatal five team standing between police cars on sunny day

Commissioner meets with new road safety team dedicated to tackling ‘Fatal 5’ drivers

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has met with a brand new team dedicated to reducing serious and fatal crashes on the county’s roads.

Lisa Townsend has thrown her support behind the Vanguard Road Safety Team, which began patrolling in Surrey during the autumn of 2022.

Officers target motorists committing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences – inappropriate speed, not wearing a seat belt, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, distracted driving, including looking at a mobile phone, and careless driving.

Lisa said: “I’m so pleased the team is now operational.

“Anyone who drives in Surrey will know how busy the roads are. Our motorways are some of the most highly-used in the country, and that’s why I’ve made road safety a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan.

“Distracted and dangerous driving ruins lives, and we know all Fatal 5 offences are leading contributory factors in collisions. Each and every crash is preventable and behind every victim is a family, friends and a community.

“While most people are safe motorists, there are some who selfishly and willingly risk both their own lives and the lives of others.

“It’s great news that the Vanguard team will be proactively tackling these drivers.”

Lisa met with the new team at Surrey Police’s Mount Browne HQ in December. Vanguard has been fully-staffed since October, with two sergeants and 10 PCs serving across two teams.

Sergeant Trevor Hughes said: “We use a range of tactics and vehicles, but it’s not just about enforcement – we are looking to change drivers’ behaviour.

“We use of a mix of visible policing and unmarked vehicles to stop drivers from committing Fatal 5 offences.

“The aim is ultimately to reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions on Surrey’s roads. Motorists who drive dangerously should beware – we can’t be everywhere, but we could be anywhere.”

As well as patrolling, officers from the team also use the services of data researcher Chris Ward to crack down on the county’s worst drivers.

Sergeant Dan Pascoe, who previously worked on the Roads Policing Unit, leading investigations into serious injury and fatal collisions, said: “There’s a ripple effect with any serious or fatal collision – the impact for the victim, their family and friends, and then the impact for the offender and their loved ones too.

“It is always devastating and heart-wrenching to visit the families of victims in the hours after a fatal crash.

“I would urge every Surrey driver to make sure they’re always paying full attention when they’re behind the wheel. The consequences of even a momentary distraction can be unimaginable.”

In 2020, 28 people were killed and 571 were seriously injured on Surrey’s roads.

Between 2019 and 2021:

  • 648 people were killed or seriously injured by speed-related crashes on Surrey’s roads – 32 per cent of the total
  • 455 people were killed or seriously injured by crashes involving careless driving – 23 per cent
  • 71 people were killed or seriously injured by crashes where seat belts weren’t worn – 11 per cent
  • 192 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes involving drink-or drug-driving – 10 per cent
  • 90 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes involved distracted driving, for example motorists using their phones – four per cent