Category: Local policing

The image shows a large group of people standing on a path in front of a low bridge. The bridge is painted in purples and blues. In front of the group is a ribbon, and one of the people in the image - Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend - has a pair of scissors in her hand. The group are looking into the camera and smiling.

Commissioner unveils new mural on Epsom footpath highlighted as a concern by residents

Posted on | by Alex Winter

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.

Concerns about the alleyway were raised to Epsom & Ewell’s Community Safety Partnership’s Joint Action Group. The council then applied to Lisa for funding, and work began in September.

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.” 

The image is a panoramic photo of a bridge over a public footpath. The bridge has been painted with images relating to Nescot College - it has bright colours and images from the college's history.
Four people stand together facing the camera. All are smiling, and two are in Surrey Police uniform. On the left is Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, a blonde woman in a dress. Beside her is Councillor Paul Woodward, who wears a blue top. Next in the line is Borough Commander Matt Walton, who wears police uniform. On the right of the photograph is T/Chief Superintendent Aimee Ramm, also in uniform.

“Fantastic news for residents”: Borough policing team solves 85 per cent of all shoplifting reports

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A SURREY Police team is turning the tide on shoplifting – as officers solve 85 per cent of the retail crime cases they are tasked with investigating. 

There has been a huge rise in reports of retail crime in Spelthorne after the borough’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, led by Inspector Matt Walton, urged the business community to report every incident. 

And at a residents’ meeting in Ashford town centre last week, Inspector Walton and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson shared news of the Force’s recent successes. 

Reports of retail crime are up by almost 150 per cent in Spelthorne. Around a quarter of all retail crime cases reported in the borough are solved. 

However, a huge 85 per cent of all retail crime cases assigned to Insp Walton’s team have been solved in the past three months as the team aim to bring every offender to justice. 

Team’s success

Meanwhile, Spelthorne has seen a 4.7 per cent decrease in all crime types over the past two months. 

Church Road in Ashford is one of four ‘hotspots’ in the borough, alongside the Elmsleigh Centre and Two Rivers in Staines, and Sunbury Cross. Hotspots have comparatively higher levels of crime than surrounding areas. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend secured £1million from the Government to fund additional policing resources in hotspot areas across the county. 

In September, four men were arrested after an alleged raid at a convenience store in Church Road. Enquiries continue. 

“Crime that blights communities”

Ellie said: “I was delighted to join the residents’ meeting in Ashford and answer questions on crime and policing in the town. 

“A huge amount of work is going on across Spelthorne to tackle the criminality that blights our communities, including anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and retail crime. 

“Church Road in Ashford has recently been designated as a ‘hotspot’, which means there will be more high-visibility patrols – fantastic news for residents. Over the past two months alone, there have been 60 extra foot patrols.” 

Insp Walton said: “Until very recently, we had seen a sustained increase in crime across Spelthorne of between one and two per cent a year. 

‘Report it’ plea

“However, over the last couple of months, that has changed, and there has been a decrease of 4.7 per cent in Spelthorne. 

“We have made sure that we are maintaining our community engagement, with the key message that all crime should be reported to us. 

“In some areas, this has seen a large spike in reporting. For example, we have seen a 150 per cent increase in reports of retail crime. 

“Across the borough, 25 per cent of all shoplifting incidents are being solved. When it comes to retail crime cases allocated to my team, that rises to 85 per cent. 

“However, we know that when reports of crime drop, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s less crime, but rather that there’s less confidence in reporting crime. 

“I’d urge anyone affected by criminality to keep reporting it.” 

The photo shows Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, a blonde woman in a striped shirt and jeans, sitting on a rock with a river in the background. She is looking at the camera and smiling. Visible in the distance is Chertsey Bridge.

Cygnet shot dead in catapult attack as crime network backs Deputy Commissioner’s calls for change

Posted on | by Alex Winter

VOLUNTEERS working to rehabilitate Surrey wildlife after “devastating” catapult attacks say tighter legislation is urgently needed to tackle criminality. 

In the spring, Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson urged ministers to give police greater powers to crack down on those who use catapults as weapons. 

Since publishing her letter, which can be read here, she has received support from two swan rescues and the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN). Tim Passmore, chair of the NRCN, said it is time to send a “clear message”. 

Meanwhile, on visits to the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary in Spelthorne, Ellie has discussed the issue further with those who care for wounded birds. 

The Deputy wants catapults to be treated similarly to knives – putting the onus on any carrier to prove they have a good reason to carry such a weapon, rather than the police to have evidence of unlawful intention. 

Deputy’s call

This week, the BBC is airing a documentary on the harms caused by catapult use.  

Danni Rogers, who gives his time to rescuing birds for the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary, launched a petition on the issue. It received more than 20,000 signatures. 

He told Ellie: “Swans, geese, ducks and domestic animals including cats are being shot and killed in Surrey. 

“I was called to a rescue recently that involved a family of 10 swans – mum and dad and eight cygnets. On the first occasion, one of the swans had fishing line around its leg, which I quickly resolved before spending some time feeding the family. 

“The following day, I was called again as one of the cygnets had been found dead just 50 feet away. It had been shot in the head, suffering a high-velocity, single-impact injury. 

“It’s absolutely devastating to attend incidents like these.” 

Ellie said: “Just one attack is too many, but by mid-summer, the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary had rescued around 30 wounded birds, and even more are believed to have been killed by catapults. 

“There can be a misconception that what we’re talking about is a stick fitted with an elastic band. Catapults can actually be very high-powered, accurate weapons, which are cheap and easy to buy online. 

“For less than £20, anyone can purchase a large catapult with a pistol grip handle, capable of firing with a high degree of accuracy, as well as 100 ball bearings.  

“Abhorrent”

“Using a catapult to target wildlife and property is not only unacceptable; it’s abhorrent. 

“I have asked the Government to look at changing the legislation surrounding the carrying of catapults to bring it in line with laws around carrying knives. 

“This would recognise the significant damage these weapons could cause.  

“I am determined to continue campaigning for change. This issue matters to Surrey’s residents, and it matters to Surrey Police.” 

The image shows a group of police officers in uniform walking through Guildford town centre. In front of them is a McDonald's. One of the officers has a sniffer dog on a lead. To the left of the image is a marked police car.

“Major successes” achieved during Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer initiative, Commissioner says

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A summer crackdown on criminality has resulted in a series of “major successes” across Surrey, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner says. 

The Safer Streets Summer initiative, which bolstered crime prevention and community safety, targeted crime types that typically increase during the summer months. 

These include anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, retail crime and violent offending. 

Eleven town centre locations across the county were chosen for the initiative, including Staines, Addlestone, Farnham, Camberley, Dorking and Caterham. 

Now the Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, has thanked all those involved with the scheme’s success. Surrey Police, local schools, councils, health services, businesses, and community organisations partnered with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver a range of initiatives. 

During the blitz, each of the town centres saw activity targeted at specific issues impacting communities. High-visibility police patrols and operations led to a series of arrests across the county, including: 

  • A drug dealer found with 32 wraps of cocaine in a sock and two youths found with telescopic batons, large quantities of cannabis and scales in Elmbridge 
  • A man accused of five counts of sexual assault and a 30-year-old man accused of offences including theft of a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of cannabis in Epsom and Ewell 
  • Suspected shoplifters detained moments after the alleged offences took place during two separate incidents in Mole Valley 
  • A man suspected of stealing an e-bike he was riding, as well as additional offences of possessing drugs and a bladed article, in Reigate and Banstead 
  • Three arrests relating to an operation tackling anti-social riding of motorbikes and mopeds in Tandridge 

A number of those arrests arose after officers stopped and searched people riding e-bikes. Further arrests were made during plain-clothed patrols. 

Plain-clothed patrols

Officers also worked with key partners to raid shops selling illegal vapes and alcohol to children, while plain-clothed officers visited pubs and clubs in busy night-spots to look for signs of predatory behaviour. 

Meanwhile, youth engagement officers worked with partners to create opportunities for children and young people during the six-week summer break. 

The Commissioner said: “Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer has resulted in a series of major successes across each of the 11 town centres. 

“And while summer has come to an end, our work tackling criminality that blights our communities continues, now and forever. 

Commissioner’s thanks

“This initiative put a spotlight on the work our fantastic policing teams do every single day.

“But the bread-and-butter police work of investigating, patrolling, dealing with criminality and aiming to prevent offending from every taking place will never end. 

“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the achievements of the summer. This includes police officers and staff, councils, local Business Improvement Districts and the organisations supporting children and young people. 

“There’s much more to come, and I look forward to updating Surrey’s residents in the weeks ahead.” 

The picture shows three images. The largest, at the top, shows a police officer on his knees inside a car. He has handcuffs at his belt and is looking behind a seat with a torch. At the bottom left is a photograph of Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, a blonde woman in a white shirt. She is looking into the camera with a serious expression. Behind her is a large sign, and the words 'Surrey Police' are visible. To the right is an image of officers in uniform walking through Guildford town centre close to a McDonald's. One of the officers has a sniffer dog on a lead.
Three people stand outside. All are facing the camera and smiling. On the left, wearing a yellow dress, is Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, a blonde woman. To her left, in uniform, is Sergeant Candice Gill, and also in uniform, Surrey Police's Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp.

Meet the Surrey Police sergeant who changed the law to protect frontline workers

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has thanked a Spelthorne police sergeant who successfully campaigned for a change in the law.

Lisa Townsend supported Sgt Candice Gill and Deputy Chief Constable Nev Kemp in lobbying the Government to close a loophole impacting frontline workers.

While it is a criminal offence to racially or religiously abuse someone in public, this previously did not extend to incidents occurring in homes.

It meant that those who visit private addresses as part of their work – including police officers, care staff and other emergency workers – had no legal protection from such attacks during home visits.   

Law change

Sgt Gill battled for the law change after experiencing racial abuse in a private home.

She was supported by DCC Kemp, who capitalised on opportunities to brief ministers and wrote a number of letters, and the Commissioner, who joined a trip to Parliament to make the case for change.

Over the summer, it was confirmed that the Government will make an amendment to the law, subject to the Police and Crime Bill receiving Royal Assent later this year. 

Two new offences are set to be introduced, ensuring that emergency workers are covered under the law when doing their jobs in private homes.  

“Long overdue”

Lisa said: “This long-overdue change to the law would never have happened without Sgt Gill’s courage and determination.

“All too often, those who serve on the frontlines face abuse, threats, and physical violence.

“We must never accept such behaviour, and this change in legislation will make sure there is justice for all those whose work takes them into private homes, including police officers and staff, those who work in care, paramedics and firefighters.”

Sgt Gill said: “I am absolutely delighted to have heard that my proposal to have the law changed has been agreed.  

Sergeant’s pride

“I hope the change will go some way into making all officers, but particularly the officers who are ethnically or religiously diverse, feel more protected and more valued while doing one of the hardest jobs out there.

“The positive impact is widespread across all police forces and other emergency services.”

DCC Kemp said the law change “is a reminder of the difference we can make with determination and teamwork”.

The image shows Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, a blonde woman in a white shirt, standing in front of a Surrey Police building. She is beneath a sign that says 'Surrey Police HQ Mount Browne.' Her hands are clasped and she is looking directly into the camera.

Investment fraud victims lose £50,000 each in “sophisticated” scams, Commissioner warns

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner has warned of the “severe” cost of investment fraud as new figures reveal victims lose an average of £50,000 each.

Lisa Townsend said “sophisticated” scams make it difficult for investors to tell the difference between a genuine opportunity and a fraud.

Across the UK, the total loss to investment fraud between 2023 and 2024 was £569.6million.

Surrey Police’s Operation Signature aims to identify victims who are particularly vulnerable in the county, including those who may suffer repeated frauds. Victims identified under Signature lost a total of £8.42million in the 12 months to August 2025.

Fraud losses

In one recent case, a specially-trained fraud caseworker at Surrey’s Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU) supported a victim who was conned out of £350,000 after signing up to a crypto-based online trading platform.

She had researched her ‘broker’, portrayed by scammers as a senior figure at a bank, and over the next year saw her money invested into shares.

The victim then took out loans and liquidated her pension to boost the ‘investment’.

She hoped to pay off her mortgage, but after attempting to withdraw £250,000, she was asked to pay in another £25,000. Her money was never paid out and she was unable to contact the broker.

Victim lost £350,000

Operation Signature lead PC Bernadette Lawrie BEM said victims of investment fraud suffer the highest financial loss by fraud type.

“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams and our Fraud Caseworkers Teams work tirelessly to help victims and prevent these crimes. They help fraud victims recover and prevent them from being re-targeted,” she said.

“Investment fraudsters run increasingly sophisticated schemes, and fraud victims are just as likely to be male as female.”

The Commissioner said: “Investment fraud can be extremely sophisticated, and it is often difficult to distinguish between a real opportunity and a scam.

“This is not your fault”

“Whether the scam is a fake property deal, a bogus social media investment or cryptocurrency fraud, victims are deceived into believing they are safely investing their hard-earned money to build for the future.

“Like all frauds, the impact can be severe, both financially and in terms of a victim’s mental wellbeing.

“If you fear you are a victim, you are not alone and this is not your fault. I urge you to speak to Action Fraud and Surrey Police.

“You can also turn to the Victim and Witness Care Unit, who offer truly fantastic support to those impacted by crime across the county.”

What you need to know

Surrey Police has published a checklist for those who are considering investing, as well as some common ‘warning signs’. You can read more here.

Action Fraud is the national reporting place for all fraud or via phone on 0300 123 2040.

For vulnerable victims call 101 or use textphone service on 18001 101.

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, use the Force’s textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you pre-registered with the Emergency SMS Service.

The image shows a dark room filled with computers and desks. Across the length of one wall is a bank of television screens, many of which show CCTV images. In the far left corner is a mugshot of a bearded man with dark hair, who looks directly into the camera.

Brazen shoplifter highlighted to Commissioner on visit to Boots CCTV hub is jailed

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A shoplifter who brazenly stole goods worth more than £34,000 in a six-week spree has been jailed after he was caught trying to flee the country.

Wesley Maughan, 25, was one of the cases brought to Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s attention during a visit to the Boots CCTV Monitoring Centre over the summer.

Lisa met with security staff at the hub in Nottinghamshire after their work with Surrey Police led to the arrest and charge of 22-year-old Ashford man John Ward.

Ward, who stole items worth £60,000 from Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-op stores was jailed for two years in April.

The hub has now worked with the Force once again to secure a conviction for Maughan, of Slough.

Shoplifters sentenced

Maughan, who admitted 13 counts of theft from a shop, raided Boots, Tesco and Co-op stores across Surrey, London, Buckinghamshire and Kent. He targeted nicotine, healthcare and cosmetics products.

CCTV captured him entering a Boots store before filling bags with goods, concealing items in his coat, and leaving without paying.

He was arrested at Harwich International Port in May after trying to flee the country under a false identity, and has this week been sentenced to 22 months in prison at Aylesbury Crown Court.

The Commissioner said: “The sentences received by Maughan and Ward should serve as a timely reminder to those who target our business communities.

“Surrey Police will not tolerate retail crime, and our officers will bring offenders to justice.

“We will not tolerate it”

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in these cases for their fantastic work.”

Retail crime is a key priority for both the Commissioner and senior leaders at Surrey Police.

In the past year, there have been 800 additional shoplifting charges, and the arrest rate for these crimes has more than doubled. 

Investigating officer PC Annalise Ware said: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime.

“It can have a devastating impact on businesses and their communities. Staff can be left feeling vulnerable and powerless and customers are also often affected.

Force priority

“It is a priority for us to tackle retail crime head on, relentlessly pursuing those who steal from shops and getting them in front of the courts.

“Crucial to this is shoplifting being reported – irrespective of value – as it helps us build an intelligence picture of who the offenders are and the trends in their behaviour.

“In this case, working in partnership with retailers helped us to quickly identify Maughan as a suspect, charge and sentence him for multiple offences.

“I hope this outcome reassures our communities that we are committed to tackling shoplifting and serves as a reminder that we are working daily to drive retail crime out of Surrey.”

Two people stand and look at computer screens. One, a blonde woman in a green dress, is Commissioner Lisa Townsend. She stands next to a man in a suit, who wears a lanyard around his neck. A man is sitting at the computer with his back to the camera. In front of all three people pictured is a wall covered with screens, each of which shows CCTV images.

Inside the Boots nerve centre where operators track Surrey’s shoplifters in real time

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has visited a high-tech nerve centre which tackles retail crime at Boots branches across the country. 

Lisa Townsend travelled to Beeston in Nottinghamshire to see the work of the chain’s CCTV Monitoring Centre. 

The hub receives hundreds of alerts a day from its shops in the UK. Staff can press alarms for central support and live monitoring if they have suspicions about a customer.

Earlier this year, 22-year-old John Ward, of Ashford, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting shoplifting items worth more than £60,000. 

Shoplifter jailed

Goods were stolen from Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-op stores in Surrey, Thames Valley, Kent, London, Cleveland, Cheshire and Durham. 

Surrey Police arrested Ward after the Boots intelligence hub reported 19 connected incidents to the Force. 

The facility features 18 huge screens displaying live CCTV feeds. A team of security specialists respond in real time, either taking over a store’s loudspeakers to deter shoplifters, or warning the suspect that they’re being watched. 

Where a suspect is identified, the local police force is notified. 

In Surrey, 30 of the 36 Boots stores have reported an incident into Auror, a crime reporting network which connects retailers and local police forces, over the past 18 months. The top stores to report are in Walton-on-Thames and Farnham.

CCTV hub

In 2023, Boots contributed £800,000 towards Operation Pegasus, a national police operation which uses CCTV and facial recognition technology to target criminals. 

Retail crime is a key priority for both the Commissioner and senior leaders at Surrey Police.

In the past year, there have been 800 additional shoplifting charges, and the arrest rate for these crimes has more than doubled. 

Lisa said: “Retail crime harms communities in Surrey and across the UK. 

“Tackling it head on”

“It is not a victimless crime. Instead, it leads to fear and loss across huge swathes of our society, from business owners to employees and customers. 

“The Force is committed to tackling retail crime head on, and to do that, they need reports. 

“The tireless work of staff at Boots CCTV Monitoring Centre is helping our officers to secure convictions and drive offenders out of our high streets. 

“I commend Boots for its investment to protect staff and customers.” 

The image shows the inside of a dark room. The focus is a large wall along the back of the room, which is covered with television screens that show CCTV images. People are working at desks in front of the screens, and their computers also show CCTV images.

The hub shows live CCTV images from Boots stores across the UK

The image shows PCSO Becca Bullock, Woking MP Will Forster, Dame Diana Johnson, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, and Woking Borough Commander Inspector Ed Lyons standing in Woking town centre. Everyone is looking forwards and smiling in the posed shot.

Six days without a report of crime: How police are ‘problem-solving’ offending in Woking town centre

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Not a single crime was reported in Woking town centre for six days in a row this summer as police use data to ‘problem-solve’ offending. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said the Force is turning the tide on criminals with “back-to-basics” policing – a key priority in her Police and Crime Plan. 

The Commissioner joined Woking’s Borough Commander Inspector Ed Lyons, Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson, and Woking MP Will Forster for a summit in the town this week. 

During the meeting, Inspector Lyons said partnership working between Surrey Police, Woking Borough Council, local retailers and The Peacocks Centre is having a dramatic effect. 

One initiative has seen PCSOs and officers hosting regular Meet the Beat sessions at eight local retailers across Woking, as well as making routine visits to chat with staff and customers. Across these eight stores, retail crime has dropped by a total of 60 per cent.

Crime drops in Woking

The Force is also using an empty retail space in the Victoria Place Shopping Centre to host a Cop Shop Stop for residents and visitors to attend, as well as meetings with partners. 

This work forms part of Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer, a wide-ranging programme of events across 11 town centres in the county. The initiative targets crime types that typically increase during the summer months, including anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, retail crime, and violent offending. 

Lisa said: “I’d like to thank Dame Diana for joining the team in Woking for this fantastic event. 

“Police in the town used data and intelligence to pinpoint the areas where criminality was proportionately more common. Their aim is not just to respond to offending, but to stop it taking place altogether. 

“Recently, there were six consecutive days where no crimes were reported in the town centre, with another 48 hours of no reports shortly after that. However, we urge anyone who needs to contact their police to do so, either on 101 or by calling 999 in an emergency. 

“Back to basics”

“This problem-solving work is back-to-basics policing at its finest, which is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan. 

“By working with businesses and the borough council, the team are making a huge difference to one of Surrey’s most vibrant and busy town centres.” 

Insp Lyons told Dame Diana: “We want to make sure people in Woking are aware that this is their town, and they have a right to feel safe and secure.

“We are using intelligence-led policing backed by data to determine crime patterns, and then deploying high-visibility patrols and enhanced CCTV use.

“This hard work can be seen across the county having obtained over 1,200 shoplifting charges, a 32.3% increase on the previous year, and increased arrest rates by 12.1%.

“We are also working closely with our partners to ensure this work can last.”

The image shows Surrey's Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, a blonde woman who is wearing a white top, looking directly into the camera. Behind her is a backdrop which reads, 'Welcome to Surrey Police.'

Commissioner welcomes police officer pay increase – but urges Government to commit to future funding

Posted on | by Alex Winter

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. 

In Surrey, the cost of the additional pay rise, if it was not funded by the Government, would equate to an extra £6 on the precept, the part of council tax that goes towards policing in the county.

Officer pay to rise

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. 

Commissioner’s warning

“The wage increase, as welcome as it is, exceeds the salary increases budgeted for by many forces, including Surrey.

“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.”