Category: Local policing

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.”

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.