Category: Local policing

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaking at a podium

Commissioner’s warning as crisis in care ‘takes officers off the frontline’

Posted on | by Alex Winter

THE crisis in mental health care is taking Surrey Police officers off the frontline – with two officers recently spending a full week with a single vulnerable person, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner has warned.

As national Mental Health Awareness Week begins, Lisa Townsend said the burden of care is falling on officer’s shoulders amid nation-wide challenges to provide support to the most vulnerable.

However, a new national model that will take the responsibility away from police will bring “real and fundamental change”, she said.

Over the past seven years, the number of hours police in Surrey are spending with people in crisis has almost trebled.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaks about the Right Care, Right Person model at the NPCC’s Mental Health and Policing Conference

In 2022/23, officers dedicated 3,875 hours to supporting those in need under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, which gives police the power to remove a person believed to be suffering from a mental disorder and in need of immediate care to a place of safety. All section 136 incidents are double-crewed, meaning more than one officer must attend.

In February 2023 alone, officers spent 515 hours on incidents relating to mental health – the highest number of hours ever recorded in a single month by the Force.

More than 60 people were detained when they were in crisis in February. The detentions were mostly in police vehicles as a result of ambulance shortages.

During March, two officers spent a full week supporting a vulnerable person – taking the officers away from their other duties.

‘Huge damage’

Across England and Wales, there was a 20 per cent increase in the number of mental health incidents police had to attend last year, according to data from 29 of 43 forces.

Lisa, the national lead for mental health and custody for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), said the issue draws officers away from fighting crime and may even be “dangerous” for a vulnerable person’s wellbeing.

“These figures show the huge damage caused across society when appropriate interventions aren’t made by the NHS,” she said.

“It is neither safe nor appropriate for police to pick up the pieces of a failing mental health care system, and may even be dangerous for the wellbeing of a person in crisis, although officers should be applauded for the fantastic job they do under a great deal of pressure.

“Unlike doctor’s surgeries, community health outreach programmes or council services, the police are available 24 hours a day.

Commissioner’s warning

“We have seen time and time again that 999 calls to help someone in distress spike as other agencies close their doors.

“The time has come for real and fundamental change.

“In the coming months, we hope that forces around the country will no longer have to attend every mental health incident reported. We’ll instead follow a new initiative called Right Care, Right Person, which began in Humberside and has saved officers there more than 1,100 hours per month.

“It means that when there are concerns for a person’s welfare that’s linked to their mental health, medical or social care issues, they’ll be seen by the right person with the best skills, training and experience.

“This will help officers return to the job they have chosen – that of keeping Surrey safe.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and police officers at a Surrey Police attestation event

“Brilliant news for residents” – Commissioner welcomes announcement that Surrey Police is the biggest it has ever been

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has hailed today’s announcement that Surrey Police has added 395 extra officers to its ranks since 2019 – making the Force the biggest it’s ever been.

It was confirmed that the Force has exceeded its target under the government’s three year Operation Uplift programme to recruit 20,000 officers across the country, which ended last month.

Home Office figures show that since April 2019 when the programme started, the Force has recruited an extra 395 officers through a combination of Uplift funding and council tax contributions from the Surrey public. This is 136 more than the 259 target the government had set.

This has swelled the total Force number to 2,325 – making it the biggest it has ever been.

Since 2019, Surrey Police has had a total of 44 different intakes of recruits. Around 10 per cent of these new officers are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds while over 46 per cent were female.

The Commissioner said Surrey Police had done an amazing job recruiting the extra numbers in a tough job market following an extensive recruitment campaign run by the Force.

She said: “It has taken a mammoth effort from a whole range of teams within the Force to get to this point today, and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so incredibly hard over the last three years to achieve this target.

‘More officers than ever before’

“We now have more officers in the Surrey Police ranks than ever before and that is fantastic news for residents. 

“I was really pleased to see the Force have also managed to significantly increase the number of female officers and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

“I believe this will help give the Force an even more diverse workforce and be more representative of the communities they serve in Surrey.

“I had the pleasure of attending the last attestation ceremony at the end of March where 91 of those new recruits pledged to serve the King before going off to complete their training courses.

Huge achievement

“Whilst it has been fantastic to reach this milestone – there is still plenty of hard work to be done. The retention of officers and staff is one of the biggest issues policing is dealing with across the country and this will continue to be a challenge for the Force over the coming months.

“Surrey residents have told me loud and clear they are keen to see more officers on their streets, taking the fight to criminals and tackling those issues important to them where they live.

“So this is really great news today and my office will give all the support we can to our new Chief Constable Tim De Meyer so that we can get these new recruits fully trained and serving our communities as quickly as possible.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend with a female PCSO

Commissioner joins PCSO on foot patrol in Guildford – and urges others to join Surrey Police

Posted on | by Alex Winter

COMMISSIONER Lisa Townsend joined a Surrey Police Community Support Office (PCSO) on a foot patrol in Guildford last week – and urged anyone with an interest in the job to apply to the Force.

On a two-hour walk through the town centre, Lisa and PCSO Chris Moyes spoke with members of the public, visited areas known for anti-social behaviour, and were called to a department store following reports of a shoplifter.

PCSOs work alongside police and share some of their powers. While they are unable to make an arrest, they can issue fixed penalty notices, demand the name and address of anyone behaving anti-socially, and take alcohol from a person aged under 18.

In Surrey, individual PCSOs are well-known for their work in the communities they patrol, and act as a visible presence to deter crime and build relationships between residents and police.

Applications to become a PCSO with Surrey Police are currently being accepted.

Lisa said: “Our PCSOs are absolutely vital, and I had a chance to see exactly how much good they do in Surrey during my patrol with Chris.

“During my brief visit, she was stopped by a number of people who knew her. While some had a concern to discuss, many simply wanted to say hello. This is a testament to her 21 years of service with the Force.

‘Absolutely vital’

“Two of the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan are to protect communities from harm and work with our residents so they feel safe. PCSOs often provide that link between frontline policing and the people who live in our county.

“It’s a job like no other, and that’s what I’d urge anyone with an interest to apply. PCSOs make a huge difference to the lives of Surrey residents.”

PCSO Moyes said: “Being a PCSO is a brilliant job.

“I particularly enjoy the variety and speaking to so many different people of all ages and backgrounds.

“There’s nothing like putting a smile on a victim’s face by supporting and solving problems for them.”

Vacancies are currently available in Spelthorne, Elmbridge, Guildford, Surrey Heath, Woking and Waverley.

PCSOs work alongside Safer Neighbourhood Teams to prevent and tackle issues by building relationships and winning the trust of the public.

For more information, visit surrey.police.uk/police-forces/surrey-police/areas/careers/careers/pcso/

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend sat at a desk with local police officer in a town hall

Commissioner and Deputy join residents at two meetings amid concerns over anti-social behaviour and speeding

Posted on | by Alex Winter

The Police and Crime Commissioner and her Deputy have been speaking to residents in south west Surrey this week about their concerns over anti-social behaviour and speeding.

Lisa Townsend visited Farnham for a meeting on Tuesday night, while Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson spoke with Haslemere residents on Wednesday evening.

During the first event, attendees spoke with Lisa and Sergeant Michael Knight about damage to 14 businesses and homes in the early hours of September 25 2022.

Those who attended the second event told of their worries about speeding drivers and shed break-ins.

The meetings were held just over a fortnight after Lisa was invited to a round table discussion on anti-social behaviour at No10. She was one of a number of experts who visited Downing Street last month after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has identified the issue as a key priority for his Government.

Lisa said: “Anti-social behaviour blights communities around the country and can cause misery to victims.

“It’s important that we look at the harm caused by such offences, because every victim is different.

“My advice to anyone affected by anti-social behaviour is to report it to the police using 101 or our online tools. It may be that officers aren’t always able to attend, but every report enables local officers to build an intelligence-based picture of trouble spots and change their patrol tactics accordingly.

“As always, in the event of an emergency, call 999.

“Much is already done in Surrey to support victims of this offence. My office commissions both Mediation Surrey’s Anti-Social Behaviour Support Service and the Cuckooing Service, the latter of which specifically helps those who have their homes taken over by criminals.

“In addition, residents who have reported anti-social behaviour three times or more in a six-month period, and feel that little action has been taken, can activate a community trigger. The trigger draws in a number of agencies, including my office, to work together to find a more permanent solution to the problem.

“I strongly believe that tackling this issue isn’t solely a police responsibility.

“The NHS, mental health services, youth workers and local authorities all have a part to play, particularly where incidents don’t cross the line into criminality.

“I don’t underestimate how difficult this is for those affected. Everyone has a right to feel safe, whether they’re out and about or at their home.

“I want all relevant organisations to work together in order to deal with the root causes of anti-social behaviour, as I believe it’s the only way to truly tackle the problem.”

‘Blights communities’

Ellie told residents in Haslemere that she will write to Surrey County Council regarding the concerns of residents to understand any measures they are currently looking to implement.

She said: “I understand residents’ fears over dangerous driving on their roads, and the safety concerns around speeding, both within Haslemere itself and on A roads on the outskirts, such as that to Godalming.

“Making Surrey’s roads safer is a key priority in our Police and Crime Plan, and our office will do all we can, working with Surrey Police, to help make residents safer and ensure they feel safer too.”

For more information on the community trigger programme, visit surrey-pcc.gov.uk/funding/community-trigger

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Michael Gove MP

Commissioner warns of the impact of anti-social behaviour at No10 meeting

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has warned that tackling anti-social behaviour isn’t solely a police responsibility as she joined a round table discussion at No10 this morning.

Lisa Townsend said the issue can have a “very high impact” on victims and blights communities around the country.

However, councils, mental health services and the NHS have just as important a role to play in ending the scourge of anti-social behaviour as police do, she said.

Lisa was one of a number of experts invited to Downing Street today for the first in a series of meetings on the problem. It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak identified anti-social behaviour as a key priority for his Government in a speech earlier this month.

Lisa joined MP Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Will Tanner, Mr Sunak’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert, and Victims’ Commissioner CEO Katie Kempen, among others from charities, police forces and the National Police Chiefs Council.

The panel discussed existing solutions, including visible policing and fixed penalty notices, as well as longer-term programmes such as the re-invigoration of Britain’s high streets. They will meet again in the future to continue their work.

Surrey Police supports victims through the Anti-Social Behaviour Support Service and the Cuckooing Service, the latter of which specifically helps those who have their homes taken over by criminals. Both services are commissioned by Lisa’s office.

Lisa said: “It is quite right that we push anti-social behaviour away from our public spaces, although my concern is that by dispersing it, we send it to residents’ front doors, giving them no safe refuge.

“I believe that in order to end anti-social behaviour, we have to tackle the underlying issues, such as trouble at home or a lack of investment in mental health treatment. This can and should be done by local authorities, schools and social workers, among others, rather than the police.

“I do not underestimate the impact this particular type of offending can have.

“While anti-social behaviour may appear to be a minor crime at first glance, the reality is very different, and it can have a very high impact on victims.

‘Very high impact’

“It makes the streets feel less safe for everyone, particularly women and girls. These issues are key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan.

“That’s why we have to take this seriously and deal with the root causes.

“In addition, because every victim is different, it’s important to look at the harm caused by such offences, rather than the offence itself or the number committed.

“I’m pleased to say that in Surrey, we work closely with partners including local authorities to reduce the number of times victims are pushed between different organisations.

“The Community Harm Partnership is also running a series of webinars to increase awareness of anti-social behaviour and improve its response.

“But Forces around the country can and must do more, and I’d like to see joined-up thinking between different agencies to get to the bottom of this offence.”

Commissioner hits out at “selfish” drink and drug drivers as campaign draws to a close

Posted on | by Alex Winter

More than 140 arrests were made in Surrey in just four weeks as part of Surrey Police’s annual drink and drug drive campaign.

The campaign is run by officers with the aim of protecting the public from the dangers of drink and drug driving over the festive period. This is run in addition to proactive patrols to tackle drink and drug drivers, which are carried out 365 days a year.

A total of 145 arrests on were made after stops by Surrey Police officers during the operation which ran from Thursday, 1 December to Sunday, 1 January inclusive.

Out of these, 136 arrests were made on suspicion of drink and drug driving. These included:

  • 52 arrests on suspicion of drink driving
  • 76 on suspicion of drug driving
  • Two for both offences
  • One on suspicion of being unfit due to drink or drugs
  • Five for failure to provide a specimen.

The remaining 9 arrests were for other offences such as:

  • Drug possession and supply offences
  • Theft of motor vehicle
  • Firearms offences
  • Failure to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision
  • Handling stolen goods
  • Stolen motor vehicle

During the same period Sussex Police made 233 arrests, 114 on suspicion of drink driving, 111 on suspicion of drug driving and eight for failure to provide.

Superintendent Rachel Glenton, from Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said: “Whilst most road users are conscientious and law-abiding citizens, there are several people who refuse to comply with the law. Not only is this putting their own lives at risk, but also other innocent people’s lives as well.

“A small amount of alcohol or drugs can massively impair your judgement and seriously increase the risk of you injuring or killing yourself or someone else on the roads.”

‘Never worth it’

Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, said: “Far too many people still think it’s acceptable to drink or take drugs before getting behind the wheel.

“In being so selfish, they risk their own lives, as well as those of other road users.

“Surrey’s routes are particularly busy – they carry 60 per cent more traffic than the average UK road, and serious crashes are sadly not uncommon here. That’s why road safety is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan.

“I will always support the police as they use the full force of the law to tackle reckless motorists who endanger others.

“Those who drive intoxicated can destroy families and ruin lives. It is never worth it.”

If you know someone who is driving whilst over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.

Council Tax 2023/24 – PCC urges residents to have their say on police funding in Surrey for the coming year

Posted on | by James Smith

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is urging Surrey residents to have their say on what they would be prepared to pay to support policing teams in their communities over the coming year.

The Commissioner has today launched her annual consultation on the level of council tax residents will pay for policing in the county.

Those who live and work in Surrey are being invited to complete a brief survey and share their views on whether they would support an increase on their council tax bills in 2023/24.

The Commissioner said it is an extremely difficult decision to make this year with household budgets being squeezed by the cost of living crisis.

But with inflation continuing to rise, the Commissioner says an increase of some kind will likely be necessary just for the Force to maintain its current position and keep pace with pay, fuel and energy costs.

The public are being invited to have their say on three options – whether they would agree to pay an extra £15 a year on an average council tax bill which would help Surrey Police maintain its current position and look to improve services, between £10 and £15 a year extra which would allow them to keep their heads above water or less than £10 which would likely mean a reduction in the service to communities.

The short online survey can be filled in here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/counciltax2023/

Decorative image with text. Have your say: Commissioner's council tax survey 2023/24


One of the PCC’s key responsibilities is to set the overall budget for Surrey Police including determining the level of council tax raised for policing in the county, known as the precept, which funds the Force together with a grant from central government.

Recognising the increased pressure on police budgets, the Home Office announced this week that they have given PCCs across the country the flexibility to increase the policing element of a Band D council tax bill by £15 a year or an extra £1.25 a month – the equivalent of just over 5% across all bands in Surrey.

PCC Lisa Townsend said: “I am under no illusion that the cost of living crisis we are all facing is putting a huge squeeze on household budgets and asking the public for more money at this time is incredibly difficult.

“But the reality is that policing is being seriously impacted too. There is huge pressure on pay, energy and fuel costs and the stark rise in inflation means the Surrey Police budget is under considerable strain.

“The government announced last week it was giving PCCs the ability to add £15 a year on an average household council tax bill. That amount would allow Surrey Police to maintain its current position and look to improve services over the coming year. A lesser figure between £10 and £15 would enable the Force to keep pace with pay, energy and fuel costs and keep their heads above water. 

“However, the Chief Constable has been clear with me that anything less than £10 would mean further savings will have to be made and that our service to the public will be impacted.

“Last year, the majority of those who took part in our poll voted for a council tax increase to support our policing teams and I really want to know whether you would be willing to continue that support again in what is a challenging time for us all.

“Surrey Police are making progress in those areas I know are important to people where they live. The number of burglaries being solved is on the increase, a huge focus has been put into making our communities safer for women and girls and Surrey Police received an outstanding rating from our inspectors on preventing crime.

“The Force is also on course to recruit the extra 98 police officers which is Surrey’s share this year of the government’s national uplift programme which I know residents are eager to see out on our streets.

“That will mean over 450 extra officers and operational policing staff will have been recruited into the Force since 2019.  I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of these new recruits and many are already out in our communities making a real difference.

“I am really keen to ensure we don’t take a backward step in the service we provide or risk undoing the hard work that has gone into increasing police numbers in recent years.

“That is why I am asking the Surrey public for their continued support during what is a challenging time for us all.

“Surrey Police has a transformation programme underway looking at all areas of Force spending and they already need to find £21.5m in savings over the next four years which is going to be tough.

“But I really want to know what the people of Surrey think that increase should be so I would ask everyone to take a minute to fill out our brief survey and give me their views.”

The consultation will close at 12pm on Monday 16th January 2023. For more information, visit our council tax 2023/24 page.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner Lisa Townsend praises ‘outstanding’ crime prevention but says room for improvement elsewhere following Surrey Police inspection

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has praised Surrey Police’s achievements in preventing crime and anti-social behaviour after it was graded ‘outstanding’ in a report published today.

But the Commissioner said improvements were needed in other areas including how the Force responded to non-emergency calls and its management of high harm offenders.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) carry out annual inspections on police forces across the country into the Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) in which they keep people safe and reduce crime.

Inspectors visited Surrey Police in January to carry out its PEEL assessment – the first since 2019.

Their report published today found excellent examples of problem solving focused on local policing, good investigations, and a strong focus on guiding offenders away from crime and protecting vulnerable individuals.

It recognised that Surrey Police answered 999 calls quickly, exceeding the national target for the percentage of calls that were answered within 10 seconds. It also noted the use of the Checkpoint scheme in Surrey, that supports lower-level offenders to address the root causes of their offending in place of prosecution. The scheme is actively supported by the Commissioner’s Office and resulted in a 94% drop in re-offending in 2021.

The Force achieved ‘good’ ratings in investigating crime, the treatment of the public and protecting vulnerable people. They were also assessed as ‘adequate’ in responding to the public, developing a positive workplace and making good use of resources.

Surrey continues to have the 4th lowest crime rate out of 43 police forces in England and Wales and remains the safest county in in the South-East.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I know from speaking to residents across the county how highly they value the role our local policing teams play in tackling issues important to our communities.

“So, I’m really pleased to see Surrey Police maintain its ‘outstanding’ rating in preventing crime and anti-social behaviour – two areas that feature prominently in my Police and Crime Plan for the county.

“Since taking office a year ago I have been out with policing teams across Surrey and I have seen how tirelessly they work to keep people safe. Inspectors found that the problem-solving approach the Force has worked hard to adopt in recent years is continuing to pay dividends which is good news for residents.

“But there is always room for improvement of course and the report has raised concerns about the management of suspects and offenders, in particular with regard to sex offenders, and the safeguarding of children in our communities.

“Managing the risk from these individuals is fundamental to keeping our residents safe – particularly women and girls who are disproportionately affected by sexual violence in our communities.

“This needs to be a real area of focus for our policing teams and my office will provide careful scrutiny and support to ensure plans put in place by Surrey Police are both prompt and robust in making the necessary improvements.

“I have noted the comments the report makes around how police deal with mental health. As the national lead for Commissioner’s on this issue – I am actively seeking better partnership working on both a local and national level to try and ensure policing is not the first port of call for those in mental health crisis and they get access to the proper clinical response they need.

“I would like to see progress in some of those areas graded ‘adequate’ in the report by providing the public with a policing service that is value for money and if they need the police, ensuring the response they receive is swift and effective.

“The report also highlights the high workload and wellbeing of our officers and staff. I know the Force are working really hard to recruit the extra officers allocated by government so I am hoping to see that situation improving for our workforce in the coming months. I know the Force share my views on the value of our people so it is important our officers and staff have the right resources and support they need.

“While there are clear improvements to be made, I think overall there is much to be pleased with in this report which reflects the hard work and dedication our officers and staff display on a daily basis to keep our county safe.”

Read the full HMICFRS assessment for Surrey here.

You can learn more about how the Police and Crime Commissioner monitors Force performance and holds the Chief Constable to account at https://www.surrey-pcc.gov.uk/transparency/performance/

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner vows to focus on the public’s priorities as she marks one year in office

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has vowed to continue putting the views of residents at the forefront of her plans as she this week marks a year since taking office.

The Commissioner said she has enjoyed every minute of the job so far and is looking forward to continuing to work with Surrey Police to deliver on the priorities the public have told her are the most important where they live.

Since winning the election in May last year, the Commissioner and her deputy Ellie Vesey-Thompson have been out across the county speaking to residents, joining police officers and staff on the frontline and visiting those services and projects the office commissions across the county to support victims and local communities.

In December, the Commissioner launched her Police and Crime Plan for the county which was firmly based on the priorities residents said were the most important to them such as the safety of our local roads, tackling anti-social behaviour and ensuring the safety of women and girls in our communities.

It followed the widest consultation with the public and our partners that the PCC’s office has ever undertaken and will form the basis on which the Commissioner will be holding the Chief Constable to account over the next two years.

In the last year, the Commissioner’s office has awarded over £4million to projects and services aimed at making our communities safer, reducing re-offending and supporting victims to cope and recover.

This has included securing over £2m in extra government funding which has provided more money to help tackle domestic abuse and sexual violence as well as Safer Streets funding which has helped improve safety for women and girls using the Basingstoke Canal in Woking and combat burglaries in the Tandridge area.

Major new services to tackle stalking and child criminal exploitation and a service aimed at the perpetrators of domestic abuse have also been launched.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “It has been a real privilege to serve the people of Surrey over the last year and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far.

“I know from speaking to the Surrey public that we all want to see more police officers on the streets of our county tackling those issues that matter most to our communities.

“Surrey Police have been working hard to recruit an extra 150 officers and operational staff over the last year with a further 98 to come in the year ahead as part of the government uplift programme.

“In February, I set my first budget for the Force and the small increase in council tax contributions from residents will mean Surrey Police are able to sustain their current policing levels and give the right support to those extra officers we are bringing in.

“There have been some big decisions to take during my first year not least on the future of the Surrey Police Headquarters which I have agreed with the Force will remain at the Mount Browne site in Guildford rather than the previously planned move to Leatherhead.

“I believe this is the right move for our officers and staff and will most of all provide the best value for money for the Surrey public.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been in contact over the last year and I am keen to hear from as many people as possible about their views on policing in Surrey so do please keep getting in touch.

“We are working on a number of ways to make it easier to engage with our office – I am holding monthly online surgeries; we are inviting the Surrey public to take part in my performance meetings with the Chief Constable and there are plans to host community events across the county in the near future.

“The most important part of my role is being the representative of you, the Surrey public, and I look forward to working with residents, Surrey Police and our partners across the county to ensure we provide you with the best policing service possible.”

Policing levels sustained across Surrey after Commissioner’s council tax proposal agreed

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Policing levels across Surrey will be sustained over the coming year after Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s proposed council tax precept rise was agreed earlier today.

The Commissioner’s suggested 3.5% increase for the policing element of the council tax will go ahead after a unanimous vote from the county’s Police and Crime Panel during a meeting at County Hall in Reigate this morning.

One of the PCC’s key responsibilities is to set the overall budget for Surrey Police including determining the level of council tax raised for policing in the county, known as the precept, which funds the Force together with a grant from central government.

The PCC said while policing is facing a significant rise in costs, the precept increase will mean Surrey Police is able to maintain policing levels across the county over the next year.

The policing element of an average Band D Council Tax bill will now be set at £295.57 – an increase of £10 a year or 83p a week. It equates to around a 3.5% increase across all council tax bands.

The PCC’s office carried out a public consultation throughout December and early January in which around 2,700 respondents answered a survey with their views. Residents were given three options – whether they would be prepared to pay the suggested 83p extra a month on their council tax bill – or a higher or lower figure.

Around 60% of respondents said they would support the 83p increase or a higher rise. Just under 40% voted for a lower figure.

Combined with Surrey Police’s share of extra officers from the government’s uplift programme, last year’s increase in the policing element of the council tax meant the Force was able to add 150 officers and operational staff to their ranks. In 2022/23, the government’s uplift programme will mean the Force can recruit around 98 more police officers.

PCC Lisa Townsend said: “The public have told me loud and clear that they want to see more police officers in our communities tackling those issues that matter most to them.

“This increase will mean Surrey Police are able to sustain their current policing levels and give the right support to those extra officers we are bringing in as part of the government’s uplift programme.

“It is always difficult to ask the public for more money, especially in the current financial climate with the cost of living increasing for us all so I haven’t taken this decision lightly.

“But I wanted to ensure we didn’t take a backwards step in the service we provide to our residents and risk the hard work that has gone into increasing police numbers in recent years being undone.

“I launched my Police and Crime Plan in December which was firmly based on the priorities that residents told me they felt were the most important such as the safety of our local roads, tackling anti-social behaviour, combatting drugs and ensuring the safety of women and girls in our communities.

“In order to deliver on those priorities and maintain that vital role in keeping our communities safe during these difficult times, I believe we must ensure we have the right resources in place. The budget for my office was also discussed at the meeting and the panel did recommend that I review it but I am pleased that the precept was unanimously approved.

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to fill in our survey and give us their views – we received nearly 1,500 comments from people with a range of opinions on policing in this county.

“I am determined during my time as Commissioner to provide the Surrey public with the best service we can and to support our policing teams across the county in the brilliant job they do protecting our residents.”