Category: Local policing

Commissioner says improvements must be made in number of burglaries solved

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has said improvements must be made in the number of burglaries that are solved in the county after figures revealed that Surrey’s rate had fallen to 3.5%.

Statistics show that nationally that solve rates for domestic burglary have gone down to around 5% over the last year.

The Commissioner said that while the number of burglaries in Surrey has fallen dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic – the solve rate is an area that needs urgent attention.

The Commissioner said: “Burglary is a deeply invasive and upsetting crime that can leave victims feeling vulnerable in their own homes.

“The current solve rate of 3.5% in Surrey is not acceptable and there is much hard work to do to improve those figures.

“A key part of my role is to hold the Chief Constable to account and I raised this issue in my live performance meeting with him earlier this week. He accepts that improvements are needed and it is an area that I will ensure we keep a real focus on going forward.

“There are a number of reasons behind these figures and this is a national trend. We know that changes in evidence and more investigations requiring digital expertise are providing challenges for policing. I am committed to making sure my office gives any support we can to Surrey Police to make progress in this area.

“A key priority in my Police and Crime Plan is to work with our communities so that they feel safe and there is more we can do to raise awareness of some of simple measures residents can take to prevent themselves from becoming a victim.

“During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic burglary rates in the county fell by 35%. Whilst that is really encouraging, we know that we must improve in the number of those crimes that are solved so we can reassure the public those responsible for committing burglary in Surrey will be pursued and brought to justice.”

Cover of the Police and Crime Plan 2021-25

“The safety of our communities must remain at the heart of policing in Surrey” – Commissioner Lisa Townsend unveils her Police and Crime Plan

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has pledged to keep the safety of communities at the heart of policing in Surrey as she today unveiled her first Police and Crime Plan.

The Plan, which is published today, is designed to set out the strategic direction for Surrey Police and those key areas the Commissioner believes the Force needs to focus on for the next three years.

The Commissioner has set out key five priorities which the Surrey public have told her are the most important to them:

  • Reducing violence against women and girls in Surrey
  • Protecting people from harm in Surrey
  • Working with Surrey communities so that they feel safe
  • Strengthening relationships between Surrey Police and Surrey residents
  • Ensuring safer Surrey roads

Read the Plan here.

The Plan will run during the Commissioner’s current term of office until 2025 and provides the basis for how she holds the Chief Constable to account.

As part of the development of the plan, the widest consultation process ever carried out by the PCC’s office took place over recent months.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson led consultation events with a number of key groups such as MPs, councillors, victim and survivor groups, young people, professionals in crime reduction and safety, rural crime groups and those representing Surrey’s diverse communities.

In addition, nearly 2,600 Surrey residents took part in a county-wide survey to have their say on what they would like to see in the plan.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “It is really important to me that my plan reflects the views of Surrey residents and that their priorities are my priorities.

“Earlier this year we undertook a huge consultation exercise to get a broad range of views from both the public and those key partners we work with on what they would like to see from their police service.

“It is clear that there are issues that consistently cause concern such as speeding, anti-social behaviour, drugs and the safety of women and girls in our communities.

“I want to thank everyone who took part in our consultation process – your contribution has been invaluable in drawing this plan together.

“We’ve listened and this plan is very much based on the conversations we’ve had and the comments we’ve received on what is most important to people where they live and work.

“It is vital we strive to provide that visible police presence the public want in their communities, tackle those crimes and issues that affect our local communities and support victims and the most vulnerable in our society.

“The last 18 months have been particularly difficult for everyone and it will take time to recover from the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. That is why I believe it is more important than ever that we strengthen those relationships between our police teams and local communities and ensure we put their safety at the very heart of our plans.

“In order to achieve that and deliver on the priorities set out in my plan – I need to ensure that the Chief Constable has the right resources and that our policing teams are given the necessary support.

“In the coming days I will be consulting with the public again on my plans for this year’s council tax precept and asking for their support in these challenging times.

“Surrey is a fantastic place to live and work and I am committed to using this plan and working with the Chief Constable to continue providing the best policing service we can for our residents.”

Commissioner wants to hear resident’s views on policing priorities for Surrey

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is calling on Surrey residents to have their say on what the policing priorities should be for the county over the next three years.

The Commissioner is inviting the public to fill in a brief survey which will help her set her Police and Crime Plan that will shape policing during her current term of office.

The survey, which only takes a few minutes to complete, can be found below and will be open until Monday 25th October 2021.

Police and Crime Plan Survey

The Police and Crime Plan will set out the key priorities and areas of policing which the Commissioner believes Surrey Police need to focus on during her term of office and provides the basis for she holds the Chief Constable to account.

During the summer months, a lot of work has already gone into developing the plan with the widest consultation process ever carried out by the Commissioner’s office.

Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson has led consultation events with a number of key groups such as MPs, councillors, victim and survivor groups, young people, professionals in crime reduction and safety, rural crime groups and those representing Surrey’s diverse communities.

The consultation process is now moving to the stage where the Commissioner wants to seek the views of the wider Surrey public with the survey where people can have their say on what they would like to see in the plan.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “When I took office back in May, I pledged to keep residents’ views at the heart of my plans for the future which is why I want as many people as possible to fill in our survey and let me know their views.

“I know from speaking to residents across Surrey that there are issues that consistently cause concern such as speeding, anti-social behaviour and the safety of women and girls in our communities.

“I want to ensure that my Police and Crime Plan is the right one for Surrey and reflects a wide a range of views as possible on those issues that are important to people in our communities.

“I believe it is vital we strive to provide that visible police presence the public want in their communities, tackle those crimes and issues that are important to people where they live and support victims and the most vulnerable in our society.

“That is the challenge and I want to develop a plan that can help deliver on those priorities on behalf of the Surrey public.

“A lot of work has already gone into the consultation process and has given us some clear foundations on which to build the plan. But I believe it is crucial we listen to our residents about what they want and expect from their police service and what they believe should be in the plan.

“That is why I would ask as many people as possible to take a few minutes to fill in our survey, give us their views and help us shape the future of policing in this county.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend walking with a female police oficer

Commissioner secures government funding for project to improve safety for women and girls in Woking

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has secured nearly £175,000 in government funding to help improve safety for women and girls in the Woking area.

The ‘Safer Streets’ funding will help Surrey Police, Woking Borough Council and other local partners boost security measures along a stretch of the Basingstoke Canal after a bid was submitted earlier this year.

Since July 2019 there have been a number of incident exposures and suspicious incidents towards women and young girls in the area.

The money will go towards installing extra CCTV cameras and signage along the canal footpath, the removal of foliage and graffiti to improve visibility and the purchase of four E bikes for community and police patrols along the canal.

A designated canal neighbourhood watch has been set up by local police, named “Canal Watch” and part of the Safer Streets funding will support this initiative.

It is part of the latest round of the Home Office’s Safer Streets funding which has seen around £23.5m shared across England and Wales for projects to improve safety for women and girls in local communities.

It follows previous Safer Streets projects in Spelthorne and Tandridge where funding helped improve security and reduce anti-social behaviour in Stanwell and tackle burglary offences in Godstone and Bletchingley.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Ensuring we improve safety for women and girls in Surrey is one of my key priorities so I am delighted we have secured this crucial funding for the project in Woking.

“During my first week in office back in May, I joined the local policing team along the Basingstoke Canal to see first-hand the challenges they have in making this area safe for everyone to use.

“Sadly, there have been a number of incidents of indecent exposure which have targeted women and girls using the canal path in Woking.

“Our police teams have been working really hard with our local partners to tackle this issue. I hope this extra funding will go a long way to supporting that work and will help make a real difference to the community in that area.

“The Safer Streets Fund is an excellent initiative by the Home Office and I was particularly pleased to see this round of funding have a focus on enhancing the safety of women and girls in our neighbourhoods.

“This is a really important issue to me as your PCC and I am absolutely determined to make sure my office continues to work with Surrey Police and our partners to find ways to make our communities even safer for everyone.”

Woking Sergeant Ed Lyons said: “We are delighted that this funding has been secured to help us tackle the issues we have had with indecent exposures along the Basingstoke Canal towpath.

“We have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to ensure that the streets of Woking are safe for everyone, including working with our partner agencies by introducing a range of measures to prevent further offences from taking place, as well as carrying out numerous enquiries to identify the offender and ensure they are brought to justice.

“This funding will enhance the work we are already doing and go a long way to making our local communities a safer place to be.”

Cllr Debbie Harlow, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Women and girls, along with everyone in our community, have the right to feel safe, whether that’s on our streets, in our public spaces or recreational areas.

“I welcome the announcement of this crucial government funding that will go a long way in providing additional security measures along the Basingstoke Canal towpath, in addition to supporting the ongoing ‘Canal Watch’ initiative.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend standing next to a police car

PCC backs Surrey Police summer drink and drug-drive crackdown

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

A summer campaign to crack down on drink and drug-drivers kicks off today (Friday 11 June), in conjunction with the Euro 2020 football tournament.

Both Surrey Police and Sussex Police will deploy increased resources to tackle one of the five most common causes of fatal and serious injury collisions on our roads.

The goal is to keep all road users safe, and to take robust action against those who put the lives of themselves and others at risk.
Working with partners including Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and Drive Smart Surrey, the forces are urging motorists to stay onside of the law – or face the penalties.

Chief Inspector Michael Hodder, of the Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our aim is to reduce the possibility of people being injured or killed through collisions whereby the driver has been under the influence of drink or drugs.

“However, we cannot do this on our own. I need your help to take responsibility for your own actions and the actions of others – do not drive if you are going to drink or use drugs, as the consequences can be fatal for yourself or an innocent member of the public.

“And if you suspect someone is driving under the influence of drink or drugs, report it to us immediately – you could save a life.

“We all know that drinking or using drugs whilst driving is not only dangerous, but socially unacceptable, and my plea is that we work together to protect everyone on the roads from harm.

“There are a lot of miles to cover across Surrey and Sussex, and while we may not be everywhere all the time, we could be anywhere.”

The dedicated campaign runs from Friday 11 June to Sunday 11 July, and is in addition to routine roads policing 365 days a year.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend said: “Even having one drink and getting behind the wheel of a vehicle can have fatal results. The message couldn’t be clearer – just don’t take the risk.

“People will of course want to enjoy the summer, particularly as lockdown restrictions begin to ease. But that reckless and selfish minority who choose to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs are gambling with their own and other people’s lives.

“Those caught driving over the limit should be in no doubt that they will face the consequences of their actions.”

In keeping with previous campaigns, the identities of anyone arrested for drink or drug-driving during this period and subsequently convicted, will be published on our website and social media channels.

Chief Insp Hodder added: “We hope that by maximising publication of this campaign, people will think twice about their actions. We appreciate that the vast majority of motorists are safe and competent road users, but there is always a minority who ignore our advice and risk lives.

“Our advice to everyone – whether you’re watching the football or socialising with friends or family this summer – is to drink or drive; never both. Alcohol affects different people in different ways, and the only way to guarantee you are safe to drive is to have no alcohol at all. Even one pint of beer, or one glass of wine, can be enough to put you over the limit and significantly impair your ability to drive safely.

“Think about it before you get behind the wheel. Don’t let your next journey be your last.”

Between April 2020 and March 2021, 291 people casualties were involved in a drink or drug-driving related collision in Sussex; three of these were fatal.

Between April 2020 and March 2021, 212 people casualties were involved in a drink or drug-driving related collision in Surrey; two of these were fatal.

The consequences of drink or drug-driving could include the following:
A minimum 12 month ban;
An unlimited fine;
A possible prison sentence;
A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
An increase in your car insurance;
Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA;
You could also kill or seriously injure yourself or someone else.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online. www.crimestoppers-uk.org

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

New Safer Streets funding set to boost crime prevention in Surrey

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Over £300,000 in funding from the Home Office has been secured by Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend to help tackle burglary and neighbourhood crime in East Surrey.

The ‘Safer Streets’ funding will be awarded to Surrey Police and partners after a bid was submitted in March for the Godstone and Bletchingley areas of Tandridge to support a reduction in incidents of burglary, particularly from sheds and outhouses, where bikes and other equipment have been targeted.

Lisa Townsend has also today welcomed the announcement of a further round of funding that will focus on projects to make women and girls feel safer over the next year, a key priority for the new PCC.

Plans for the Tandridge project, starting in June, include the use of cameras to deter and catch thieves, and extra resources such as locks, secure cabling for bikes and shed alarms to help local people prevent the loss of their valuables.

The initiative will receive £310,227 in Safer Street funding which will be backed by a further £83,000 from the PCCs own budget and from Surrey Police.

It is part of the second round of the Home Office’s Safer Streets funding which has seen £18m shared across 40 areas of England and Wales for projects in local communities.

It follows the completion of an original Safer Streets project in Spelthorne, that provided over half a million pounds to improve security and reduce anti-social behaviour at properties in Stanwell during 2020 and early 2021.

The third round of the Safer Streets Fund, which opens today, provides another opportunity to bid from a fund of £25 million for the year‚ÄØ2021/22 for projects designed to improve the safety of women and girls.‚ÄØThe PCC’s office will be working with partners in the county to prepare its bid in the coming weeks.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Burglary and shed break-ins cause misery in our local communities so I am delighted that the proposed project in Tandridge has been awarded substantial funds to tackle this issue.

“This funding will not only improve the safety and security of residents living in that area but will also act as a real deterrent to criminals who have been targeting properties and boost the prevention work our police teams are already carrying out.

“The Safer Streets Fund is an excellent initiative by the Home Office and I was particularly pleased to see the third round of funding open today with a focus on enhancing the safety of women and girls in our neighbourhoods.

“This is a really important issue to me as your PCC and I look forward to working with Surrey Police and our partners to make sure we put forward a bid that can make a real difference to our communities in Surrey.”

Borough Commander for Tandridge Inspector Karen Hughes said: “I’m really excited to bring this project for Tandridge to life in partnership with our colleagues in Tandridge District Council and the Office of the PCC.

“We’re committed to a safer Tandridge for everyone and the Safer Streets funding will help Surrey Police to go even further in preventing burglaries and ensuring local people feel safe, as well as enabling local officers to spend more time listening and providing advice in our communities.”

“Residents’ views will be at the heart of my policing plans” – new PCC Lisa Townsend takes up office following election win

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The new Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has pledged to keep residents’ views at the heart of her plans for the future as she took up office today following her election victory.

The Commissioner spent her first day in the role at the Surrey Police Headquarters in Mount Browne meeting some of her new team and spending time with the Chief Constable Gavin Stephens.

She said she is committed to addressing those key issues that residents of Surrey have told her are important to them such as tackling anti-social behaviour in our communities, improving police visibility, making the county’s roads safer and preventing violence against women and girls.

The PCC was voted in by the Surrey public following the election last week and said she wanted to repay the faith voters had put in her by making sure their priorities were her priorities.

PCC Lisa Townsend said: “I am proud and excited to be PCC for this great county and I can’t wait to get started.

“I have already said how I want to be really visible to the residents we serve so I will be out and about in our communities as much as I possibly can to meet people and listen to their concerns.

“I also want to spend time getting to know the policing teams across the county that are doing a fantastic job in keeping people safe and getting their views on how I can best support them as PCC.

“In addition, I want to be a champion for victims and I will be putting a real focus on the commissioning work the PCC’s office carries out to protect the most vulnerable people in our society whilst doing more to make sure women and girls feel safe in Surrey.

“I had a really positive and constructive meeting with the Chief Constable this afternoon to discuss how those key issues residents have raised with me during my campaign fit in with the Force’s commitments to our communities.

“I look forward to working with Gavin in the weeks and months ahead to see where we can improve our service to the Surrey public.

“Residents across the county have told me they want to see more police on our streets and I want to work with the Force to ensure the police presence in every area is proportionate and appropriate.

“The views of our communities should be heard at a national level and I will fight to get to a better deal for residents on the amount of funding we receive from central government.

“The Surrey public have put their faith in me by electing me for this role and I want to ensure I do everything I can to repay that and help make our streets safer. If anyone has any issues they want to raise about policing in their local area – please do get in touch with me.”

More PCC funding to tackle burglaries and catalytic converter thefts in Surrey

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro has provided additional funding to help Surrey Police prevent burglaries and catalytic converter thefts.

£14,000 from the PCC’s Community Safety Fund has been provided to enable local Surrey Police teams to develop targeted operations with the new Surrey Police Prevention and Problem Solving Team across six boroughs.

An additional £13,000 has been allocated to the Serious and Organised Crime Unit to work with the team to tackle a steep rise in catalytic converter thefts from vehicles in the county.

The problem solving team was paid for by the PCC’s increase to the policing element of local council tax in 2019-2020, alongside more police officers and staff in Surrey’s communities.

The county saw the fourth largest increase in catalytic converter thefts in the country in 2020, rising to over 1,100 incidents since April. Surrey Police records an average of eight domestic burglaries a day.

Working closely with the Prevention and Problem Solving Team enables officers to identify new trends and inform a bespoke approach based on the analysis of multiple incidents.

This involves a new way of thinking about crime prevention that is data led, and leads to a longer term reduction in crime.

Embedding a problem solving approach in the planning of operations saves time and money later on; with fewer but more targeted actions.

Analysis for new operations to prevent burglaries included actions such as reviewing every single crime committed in a target area in winter 2019.

Responses informed by the team and funded by the PCC include increased patrols and deterrents in specific locations where it is believed they will have the most impact. The distribution of catalytic converter marking kits and greater awareness of this crime will be carried out by local police.

PCC David Munro said: “Burglary is a devastating crime that has a long lasting impact on individuals, and is one of the main concerns expressed by local residents. Catalytic converter thefts have also increased in recent months.

“I know from our recent community events that this is a key concern of residents.

“As the problem solving team heads into its second year, I’m continuing to increase the resources available to Surrey Police to build on the improvements being made. This includes more analysts and investigators to lead problem solving across the Force, and more police officers in local teams to drive crime down.”

Chief Inspector and Prevention and Problem Solving Lead Mark Offord said: “Surrey Police are fully committed to ensuring that our residents feel safe in their communities. We understand that the harm caused to victims of burglary goes far beyond the material loss of property, and can have far-reaching financial and emotional consequences.

“As well as proactively targeting the individuals committing these offences, our problem solving approach seeks to understand how and why crimes are committed, with the intention of employing crime prevention techniques that will make offending a riskier prospect for potential offenders.”

Individual operations funded by the PCC will form part of Force’s dedicated response to burglary county-wide.

Extra officers and operational support roles set for Surrey Police after PCC’s council tax proposal agreed

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Surrey Police’s ranks will be boosted by extra officers and operational support roles over the coming year after Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro’s proposed council tax precept rise was agreed earlier today.

The PCC’s suggested 5.5% increase for the policing element of the council tax was considered by the county’s Police and Crime Panel during an online meeting this morning.

Although the majority of the panel members present didn’t support the proposal, there were insufficient votes to veto it and the precept was agreed.

Combined with Surrey Police’s next allocation of the 20,000 officers promised by government nationally, it means the Force can add 150 police officer and operational posts to its establishment during 2021/22.

These roles will bolster numbers in those crucial areas needed to increase visibility, improve our public contact and provide that essential operational support to our frontline officers.

The agreed rise will allow the Force to invest in an additional 10 officer and 67 operational support staff roles including:

• A new team of officers focused on reducing the most serious accidents on our roads

‚Ä¢ A dedicated rural crime team to tackle and prevent issues in the county’s rural communities

• More police staff focused on assisting local investigations, such as interviewing suspects, to allow police officers to stay out visible in communities

• Trained intelligence gathering and research analysts to gather information on criminal gangs operating in Surrey and help target those causing the most harm in our communities

• More police roles focused on engaging with the public and making it easier to contact Surrey Police via digital means and the 101 service.

• Additional funding to provide key support services for victims of crime Рin particular domestic violence, stalking and child abuse.

Today’s decision will mean the policing element of an average Band D Council Tax bill will be set at £285.57 – an increase of £15 a year or 29p a week. It equates to around a 5.5% increase across all council tax bands.

The PCC’s office carried out a public consultation throughout January and early February in which nearly 4,500 respondents answered a survey with their views. The survey result was extremely close with 49% of respondents agreeing with the PCC’s proposal with 51% against.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro said: “Police resources have been stretched to the limit over the last decade and I have pledged to do everything I can to put more officers back into our communities tackling those issues that matter to Surrey residents.

“So I’m pleased that this year’s precept has been agreed which will mean more numbers added to the Surrey Police establishment that will provide a badly needed boost to our frontline.

“When I launched our consultation in January, I said asking the public for more money during these difficult times was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make as PCC.

“That has been borne out in our survey which showed a really even split in people’s views on supporting my proposed rise and I fully appreciate the hardship lots of people are facing during this extremely difficult period.

“But I firmly believe that in these uncertain times the role our police teams play in keeping our communities safe has never been more important and that tipped the balance for me in recommending this increase.

“I would like to thank all those members of the public who took the time to fill in our survey and give us their views. We received over 2,500 comments from people with a range of views on policing in this county and I have read each and every one.

“This will help shape the conversations I have with the Chief Constable on those issues which you have told me are important to you.

“I want to ensure that our residents get the very best value for money from their police force so I will be paying close attention to ensure these extra roles are filled as quickly as possible so they can start making a difference to our communities.”

Council Tax 2021/22 – Would you pay a bit more to boost policing numbers and support officers and staff in Surrey?

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro is asking residents whether they would be prepared to pay a bit more in council tax to boost policing numbers and support officers and staff in the county over the coming year.

The PCC is consulting with Surrey tax-payers on his proposal of a 5.5% annual increase in the amount the public pay for policing through their council tax.

The Commissioner said he believes the role police officers and staff play in Surrey’s communities is more important now than ever as the county continues to face up to challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The proposed rise, coupled with Surrey Police’s next allocation of the 20,000 officers paid for by central government, would mean the Force could add an extra 150 officers and staff to their establishment over the coming year.

The PCC is inviting the public to have their say by filling in a short online survey here.

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.

In December, the Home Office gave 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 around 5.5% across all bands.

The combination of last year’s precept together with the initial share of the national officer uplift meant Surrey Police were able to strengthen their establishment by 150 officers and staff during 2020/21.

Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, the Force are well on track to fill those posts by the end of this financial year and the PCC said he wants to match that success by adding another 150 to the ranks during 2021/22.

The government has provided ring-fenced funding for an extra 73 officers for Surrey Police for the second tranche of officers from their national uplift.

To complement that uplift in police numbers – the PCC’s proposed 5.5% rise would allow the Force to invest in an additional 10 officer and 67 staff roles including:

  • A new team of officers focused on reducing the most serious accidents on our roads
  • A dedicated rural crime team to tackle and prevent issues in the county’s rural communities
  • More police staff focused on assisting local investigations, such as interviewing suspects, to allow police officers to stay out visible in communities
  • Trained intelligence gathering and research analysts to gather information on criminal gangs operating in Surrey and help target those causing the most harm in our communities
  • More police staff focused on engaging with the public and making it easier to contact Surrey Police via digital means and the 101 service.
  • Additional funding to provide key support services for victims of crime – in particular domestic violence, stalking and child abuse.

PCC David Munro said: “We are all living through an incredibly difficult time so deciding what I think the public should pay for their policing in Surrey over the next year is one of the hardest tasks I have faced as your Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Over the last year our police officers and staff have faced unprecedented challenges in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, putting themselves and their loved ones at risk to keep us safe. I believe the role they play in our communities during these uncertain days is more important now than ever.

“Residents across the county have consistently told me that they really value their police teams and would like to see more of them in our communities.

“This remains a key priority for me and after years of government cuts to our police service, we have a real opportunity to continue the significant strides we have made in the last few years in recruiting those badly needed extra numbers to the Surrey Police frontline.

“That is why I am proposing a 5.5% increase in the police element of council tax which would mean we could bolster officer and staff numbers in those crucial roles that are needed to increase visibility, improve our public contact and provide that essential operational support to our frontline officers.

“It is always difficult to ask the public to pay more money, particularly in these troubled times. That is why it is really important to me however to get the views and opinions of the Surrey public so I would ask everyone to take a minute to fill out our survey and let me know their thoughts.”

The consultation will close at 9.00am on Friday 5 February 2020. If you want to read more about the PCC’s proposal click here.

Together with the Surrey Police Chief Officer Team and local Borough Commanders, the PCC will also be carrying out a series of online public engagement events in every borough in the county in the next five weeks to hear people’s views in person.

You can sign up to your local event on our Engagement Events page.