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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
SURREY’S Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner has called on the Government to tighten up laws on the sale and possession of catapults.
In a letter Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ellie Vesey-Thompson said there is an urgent need for further action.
Ellie warned catapults must be subject to the same rules as knives, giving police greater powers to crack down on those who use them as weapons.
The previous Government responded to the petition with a statement that says existing legislation provides the “correct balance between protecting wildlife… whilst also allowing the public to enjoy legitimate pastimes”.
Police officers can use their powers to deal with offences involving catapults, but Ellie said additional power of seizure to prevent criminal behaviour would support communities across the country.
Catapults are also linked to anti-social behaviour in Surrey. In 2024, cars parked at a church were targeted with projectiles in a Tandridge village, and there have been reports of animals seriously injured when they were fired at in Ash Vale during May.
“Treat catapults as we would knives”
Ellie said: “I am urging the Government to listen to the concerns of Surrey’s residents.
“It is time to start treating catapults as we would knives. Anyone caught with one must have a legitimate purpose for doing so, and it should be their responsibility to prove that purpose if they’re stopped by the police.
“Attacks on wild birds are increasing in Surrey. In late February, a swan was rescued from the banks of the Thames in Staines with a missile lodged in its head.
“The previous month, a duck was severely injured by a ball-bearing fired from a catapult.
Horror injuries
“In May, people with catapults were seen at Chertsey Bridge firing at swans and ducks, and just over the border in Fleet, Hampshire, a male swan suffered an extensive facial injury at a nature reserve, while the body of a goose with similar injuries was also found.
“Both had been attacked with ball bearings fired from a catapult.
“The connection between catapults and both anti-social behaviour and vandalism are clear. These are key concerns for residents, and the time has come for stronger measures to tackle this type of offending.
“These incidents are deeply distressing. In the wrong hands, catapults can be deadly, and more legislation is urgently needed.”
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.”
A MAJOR new campaign to keep Surrey’s town centres safe over the summer has launched.
The Home Office-backed Safer Streets Summer Initiative will see a focus on the busiest areas of the county to bolster crime prevention and community safety.
The scheme, which brings together the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Surrey Police and partners across Surrey, including schools, councils, health services, businesses, and transport and community organisations, aims to tackle crimes that blight communities.
Anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, retail crime and violent offending will be among the types of criminality targeted with visible patrols and special police operations. These crime types typically increase during the summer months.
Officers will also proactively use anti-social behaviour powers and visit retail premises to offer advice, reassurance and support.
Major summer campaign begins
Locations for the initiative span the county, including Staines and Addlestone in the north, Farnham and Camberley in the west, Dorking further to the south, and Caterham in the east.
Targeted activity will take place until September, with a range of activities planned in each of the towns.
Plain-clothed officers will spot signs of suspicious behaviour in the county’s busiest nightspots, while joint operations are set to target crime enabled by motorbikes and mopeds.
Youth engagement officers will work with partners to find opportunities for young people during school holidays, and roads policing teams will be on the lookout for dangerous or distracted drivers.
Targeted operations
Officers will also mount specific patrols tackling retail crime and anti-social behaviour in tandem with partners from environmental health, licensing and trading standards.
News of the initiative comes as Surrey marks national Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week.
Anti-social behaviour is a key priority for the county’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams throughout the year, and more information on how to report anti-social behaviour or access help can be found here.
The Commissioner said: “While Surrey remains one of the safest places to live in the country, I know that anti-social behaviour, retail crime and violence against women and girls are among the issues that matter most in our communities.
“It’s what residents want to see”
“The Safer Streets Summer Initiative will allow police officers and staff, along with our fantastic partners, to put a spotlight on neighbourhood policing and community safety.
“This type of visibility is what residents have told me they want to see.
“The aim isn’t simply police enforcement – it’s collaboration, and we aim not only to respond to crime, but to prevent it altogether.
“A huge range of activities will be taking place across the summer.
“More anti-social behaviour warning letters will be sent out, while data and intelligence will be used to identify areas that are disproportionately impacted by specific crime types.
Tailored plan of action
“There will also be various days of targeted action and close working with some of our key partners.
“We will work with Business Improvement Districts to protect retailers and support vulnerable children to divert them away from crime.
“Each of the town centres identified for additional work as part of the scheme will see its own tailored plan of action unfolding over the summer months.
“I look forward to sharing more about this initiative in the weeks to come, and I wish all residents a Safer Streets Summer of their own.”
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
