Category: National policing

AI deepfake Commissioner created to raise awareness of new Question Everything fraud campaign

Posted on | by Chantal Robehmed

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, has created her own deepfake video to highlight the dangers of AI generated fraud as part of a new campaign: Question EVERYTHING. 

The video shows a deepfake of the Commissioner promoting a new financial scheme open to every Surrey resident.

It was released on the PCC’s social media channels this morning enticing users to find out how they could “secure money in their bank accounts”.

The ‘fake’ moving image of Lisa explains how registration simply involves confirming a couple of personal details including residential address and online bank details.

The film then swiftly reveals the ‘real’ Lisa Townsend explaining that the financial scheme is not genuine, and that the ‘fake’ Lisa was created using artificial intelligence.

Free guide

The video was released to mark the launch of the Question EVERYTHING campaign which aims to raise awareness of the emerging threat of AI generated fraud and how easy it is for criminals to use the technology to create fake content to scam victims.

The Commissioner’s office has also created a free information guide, The Dangers of AI and Deepfakes: How to Avoid Becoming the Victim of AI Generated Scams.  Both the information guide and campaign film with deepfake is available here.

Lisa said: “Artificial intelligence is becoming more sophisticated every day.

“While it can no doubt bring huge benefits to the way we work and live – it is also being exploited by criminals looking to target people for profit.

“I wanted to create the deepfake video to show how easy it is for fraudsters to convincingly impersonate somebody, particularly those in the public eye. Astonishingly, the fake version of me was primarily generated from a series of still images that were available in the public domain.

‘Fraudsters’ paradise’

“Only three seconds of audio is required to clone a person’s voice to be manipulated and say whatever a criminal wants – the results are frightening.

“At this time of year with Black Friday sales and Christmas fast approaching, I am urging everyone who watches content online, scrolls through social media posts, or receives unexpected phone calls or unsolicited emails to pause and ‘Question EVERYTHING’ that they are watching, reading or hearing.

“AI has made the scammers’ space into a fraudsters’ paradise.”

Question Everything

Fraud is currently the most prevalent crime against an individual accounting for more than 1 in 3 of all crimes, according to The Crime Survey for England and Wales.

And the dangers of deepfakes are apparent as Action Fraud reports that £10 million was lost last year to fraudsters who convinced victims to invest into bogus schemes by using an influential person that had been created by AI.

PC Bernadette Lawrie BEM, Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer at Surrey Police, said: “The more people understand how AI can be used to deceive, the harder it will become for criminals to exploit that technology.

“Locally, our Operation Signature team is working closely with our Neighbourhood Teams and the Victim and Witness Care Unit, alongside partners in our local councils, banks and community groups to raise awareness and build resilience.

Raising awareness

“We’re sharing intelligence, training frontline staff and volunteers, and equipping the public with practical advice on how to spot the signs and protect themselves against fraud.

“Staying informed, double-checking information, and trusting your instincts can make all the difference. Together, we can make our communities safer in the digital age.”

The Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU), a supporting partner of Question EVERYTHING, has seen a clear rise in the number of Surrey residents falling victim to increasingly sophisticated frauds, many of which involve artificial intelligence. 

Rachel Roberts, Head of the VWCU said: “Our dedicated team of three fraud specialists work closely with victims to provide both practical advice and emotional support, helping them recover from what can be an incredibly distressing experience. 

£500,000 scams

“It’s vital that residents stay alert, take a moment to verify what they see or hear, and know that help is available if they do become a victim.”

Lisa said: “Reports of AI-enabled crime pertaining to romance fraud, investment fraud and invoice fraud have had the highest total and average losses overall this year. 

“I was astounded to read examples of individuals who have lost in the region of half a million pounds to AI scams. 

“AI is enabling fraudsters to enhance tried and tested tactics more quickly and commit more sophisticated, high-volume scams, at greater scale. 

“As the application of deepfakes and cloned voices grow, everyone needs to be aware, keeping defences up, to protect themselves from the scammers’ next move. As a community, we must stay vigilant and Question EVERYTHING.”

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

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

Posted on | by Alex Winter

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

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

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

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

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

Shoplifters sentenced

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

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

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

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

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

“We will not tolerate it”

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

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

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

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

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

Force priority

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on | by Alex Winter

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

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

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

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

Shoplifter jailed

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

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

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

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

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

CCTV hub

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

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

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

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

“Tackling it head on”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five people stand in front of a council office building. All are formally dressed and look directly into the camera. They are the five south-east Police and Crime Commissioners, (from left) Matthew Barber, Donna Jones, Lisa Townsend, Katy Bourne, and Matthew Scott.

30 Wembley Stadiums full of waste: How criminals are making a fortune from rubbish

Posted on | by Alex Winter

FIVE Police and Crime Commissioners have joined forces to tackle waste crime as it was revealed that up to a fifth of all waste handled in the UK is done so illegally.

Surrey’s Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, joined her counterparts from Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Thames Valley at a summit this week to discuss the problem.

They were joined by representatives from the police, the Environment Agency, local government, land owning and farming groups, and the private sector to launch a partnership attack on waste crime.

Officials at the roundtable agreed to commission a strategic review of the situation, as well as an action plan which will focus on creating a joined-up approach.

The National Audit Office estimates waste crime is costing the English economy £900m a year.  Local authorities report there were 1.15 million incidents of fly-tipping in 2023-2024, an increase of 6% on the previous year. 

Waste warning

Lisa said: “Yesterday’s summit marks the first time since I was first elected that all five south-eastern Police and Crime Commissioners have come together as a group to deal with a single issue. That shows how seriously we all take this criminal enterprise. 

“The scale is astonishing. In just five years, agencies have dealt with 34million tonnes of waste – enough to fill 30 Wembley Stadiums.  Up to a fifth of all waste handled in the UK is done so illegally. 

“While many will know of the link between county lines drug dealing and organised criminality, in truth, these groups don’t distinguish. They can earn a fortune from the commodity of waste, and this money fuels further serious offending that does such harm to communities across the country. 

“I am delighted that policing, local government, HMRC, the Environment Agency, Heritage England and the National Farmers’ Union are forging strong partnerships to drive out offenders and return the UK’s waste industry to legitimate businesses.” 

Cost to economy

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who convened the meeting, said: “Large scale waste crime has become the new county lines.

“Organised criminal groups are dumping tonnes of illegal and often hazardous waste all around the region, polluting our countryside and costing taxpayers and individual landowners hundreds of thousands of pounds to clear up.

“What’s more, the money these gang are making from this illegal dumping often fuels other serious offending.   

“It’s not an easy problem to resolve, as there are so many agencies involved, but we have agreed to work together to improve data gathering and sharing, reporting, response times and develop strategies to tackle this growing problem. 

“No agency can do this alone, so I’m delighted my colleagues and partners have agreed to pursue this programme together.” 

“One life lost is one life too many”: Commissioner unveils new knife crime strategy during week of action

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A NEW strategy to tackle knife crime in Surrey will focus on working with communities to prevent offending. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend joined officers on patrol in Walton-on-Thames, Elmbridge this week as part of Op Sceptre, a national knife crime awareness week.  

During the initiative, Lisa launched the knife crime strategy for Surrey. The strategy, which is the work of the Surrey Serious Violence Reduction Partnership, lays out the blueprint for tackling offending in the county. 

It will follow the ‘four Es’ – engagement, education, effective intervention and enforcement. 

As part of the strategy, police and partners will speak with the public, work with those who legally sell knives to encourage responsible retail and engage with children and young people. 

Knife crime rates in Surrey are at around half of the national average. In the year to September 2024, 496 serious knife crime offences were reported, compared to an average of 1,265 nationally. 

Research by the Youth Endowment Fund shows that most of those who carry blades are male and aged between 11 and 20. Many are motivated by peer pressure or a fear of knife crime. 

However, those who carry a knife are more likely to be seriously injured or killed than those who don’t. 

The Commissioner said: “One life lost to knife crime is one life too many. 

“Surrey remains one of the safest places to live in the country. 

“But knife crime is still ruining lives, and we cannot afford to be complacent. Any crime involving a knife or blade can have the gravest of consequences. 

“One life lost is one too many”

“Those who carry knives are often under the dangerous misconception that by doing so, they are better-protected. 

“However, this is not borne out by the evidence, which shows that they are significantly more likely to become a victim of knife crime. 

“Once a conflict escalates, a knife can turn what was a minor disagreement into something far more frightening, serious, and even life-threatening. 

“During my visits to Surrey schools, I have become aware of the real fear young people have of knife crime – a perception created partly through social media. 

Strategy launches

“This constant exposure to weapons can have a real impact, and part of Op Sceptre, and of the new strategy, is to work with children and young people to help them understand the reality of the situation in Surrey. 

“During my shift on patrol in Elmbridge, the team made unannounced visits to those who are known to be carrying knives regularly, patrolled busy areas in the town centre, and used ‘spotters’ to flag signs of suspicious behaviour. 

“PCSOs also travelled on trains throughout the borough to speak with passengers, and I thank the British Transport Police for their support. 

“Report it” plea

“Work like this is crucial in reassuring communities and educating those who are tempted to carry a knife. 

“If you are aware of someone who carries a blade, I would urge you to report it to Surrey Police, or – if you would prefer to remain anonymous – to Crimestoppers. 

“We must all work together to keep the county safe.” 

motorway gantry on M25

Commissioner welcomes tough sentences for activists who blocked M25

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has welcomed tough sentences handed down to activists for their part in protests that blocked the M25.

The Commissioner said substantial jail terms given to five members of the Just Stop Oil group yesterday following a trial at Southwark Crown Court should act as a deterrent to others.

The protests which began in November 2022 caused mayhem on the M25 motorway network including a number of locations in Surrey. 

Lisa said: “I am delighted to see the tough sentences handed down to members of Just Stop Oil yesterday for their part in the protests which caused chaos on the M25. 

“As well as disrupting the lives of thousands of people in Surrey, their actions were quite simply dangerous and could have had fatal consequences. 

“I am a firm believer in peaceful protest but when that spills over into co-ordinated criminal activism, then those responsible should face the full force of the law whatever their cause.

“I shared the anger and frustration the reckless actions of this group caused to many residents in Surrey. People missed vital medical appointments and family funerals while many including doctors and nurses couldn’t get into work. 

“It also put an unnecessary strain on our hard working police teams whose time could have been much better spent policing in our communities. It was totally unacceptable and I would like to pay tribute to all of our hard working police teams for their swift efforts in disrupting these protests.

“I hope the sentences handed out yesterday will make others who are tempted to be drawn into this type of criminal behaviour stop and think.”

nitrous cannister on soil

Commissioner welcomes laughing gas ban after substance fuels anti-social behaviour “blight”

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed a ban on nitrous oxide amid warnings that the substance – also known as laughing gas – fuels anti-social behaviour across the country.

Lisa Townsend, who is currently hosting a series of engagement events in each of Surrey’s 11 boroughs, said the drug has a serious impact for both users and communities.

The ban, which comes into force this Wednesday, November 8, will make nitrous oxide a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Those who repeatedly misuse nitrous oxide could face up to two years in prison, while dealers could be sentenced to 14 years behind bars.

There are exemptions for legitimate use, including pain relief in hospitals.

Commissioner welcomes ban

Lisa said: “People living across the country will have seen the small silver canisters littering public spaces.

“These are visible markers demonstrating that recreational use of nitrous oxide has become a blight to our communities. It so often goes hand-in-hand with anti-social behaviour, which has an out-size impact on residents.

“It’s crucial to both myself and every Surrey Police officer that our residents not only are safe, but that they feel safe too, and I believe this week’s law change will contribute to that important goal.

“Nitrous oxide can also have a devastating impact on users, who can suffer effects including damage to the nervous system and even death.

“Devastating impact”

“We’ve also seen an increase in collisions, including serious and fatal crashes, where the use of this substance has been a factor.

“I do remain concerned that this ban places a disproportionate emphasis on the criminal justice system, including police, who must meet increasing demand with limited resources.

“As a result, I will look to build on partnership working with multiple agencies in a bid to improve education on the dangers of nitrous oxide, provide more opportunities for young people, and better support those affected by anti-social behaviour in all of its forms.”

Police and Crime Commisisoner for Surrey Lisa Townsend standing outside the Surrey Police Contact Centre with 'Contact Centre' visible on building sign behind her.

Commissioner says government mental health announcement must act as a turning point for policing

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner says a new agreement on the emergency response to mental health calls announced by government today must act as a crucial turning point for overstretched police forces.

Lisa Townsend said responsibility for vulnerable people must return to specialist services, rather than police, ahead of the national roll-out of the Right Care, Right Person model.

The Commissioner has long championed the scheme, which will see the NHS and other agencies step in when a person is in crisis, saying it is critical to reducing the strain on police forces across the country.  

In Surrey, the amount of time officers are spending with those suffering mental health difficulties has almost trebled in the past seven years.

Scheme ‘will save 1m hours of police time’

The Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care has today announced a National Partnership Agreement that will pre-empt the implementation of Right Care, Right Person. The government estimates that the scheme could save one million hours of police time in England every year.

Lisa is continuing to have discussions with partners in mental health care, hospitals, social services and the ambulance service, and recently travelled to Humberside, where Right Care, Right Person launched five years ago, to learn more about the approach.

The Commissioner and a senior Surrey Police officers spent time in the Humberside Police contact centre, where they saw how mental health calls are triaged by the Force.

Turning point for forces

Lisa, who leads on mental health for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, yesterday addressed reporters at a national press conference held at the Home Office to introduce the scheme.

She said: “The announcement of this partnership agreement today and the roll out of Right Care, Right Person must act as a turning point in how police forces respond to non-emergency mental health calls.

“I recently had a fantastic meeting with officers in Humberside, and we’ve been learning some really good and important lessons from them on how this works.

“Around 1m hours of police time across the country could be saved if we get this right, so the police service must grasp this opportunity to ensure people get the right care when they need it, and at the same time, free up police resources to tackle crime. That is what we know our communities want to see.

‘It’s what our communities want’

“Where there is a threat to life, or the risk of serious injury, the police will of course always be there.

“However, Surrey’s Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and I agree that officers should not be attending every call that is related to mental health and that other agencies are better-placed to respond and provide support.

“If someone is in crisis, I don’t want to see them in the back of a police car.

“It cannot be the right response in the vast majority of these situations for two police officers to turn up, and I believe it could even be dangerous to a vulnerable person’s welfare.

“There are jobs only police can do. Only the police can prevent and detect crime.

“We would not ask a nurse or a doctor to do that work for us.

“In many cases, where a person isn’t at risk of harm, we must insist that the relevant agencies step in, rather than relying on our policing teams.

“This isn’t something that will be rushed – we are committed to working closely with our partners to implement these changes and ensure vulnerable people receive the right care, from the right person.”

Office of the Commissioner and Surrey Police staff in a meeting at the PCCs office

“Time for change”: Commissioner hails new national programme aimed at driving up convictions for serious sexual offences

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has hailed the arrival of a new national programme aimed at driving up convictions for rape and other serious sexual offences.

Lisa Townsend spoke out after every police force in England and Wales signed up to Operation Soteria, a joint policing and prosecutions programme.

The Home Office-funded initiative aims to develop new operating models for the investigation and prosecution of rape in a bid to increase the number of cases reaching court by more than double.

Lisa recently hosted Edward Argar, the Minister for Victims and Sentencing, to discuss the implementation of Soteria.

Pictured l-r are DCC Nev Kemp, Lisa Townsend, Edward Argar, Head of Commissioning Lisa Herrington, and Chief Constable Tim De Meyer

During the MP’s visit to Guildford, he joined a tour of Surrey’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) to learn more about the work that is currently being done to support survivors.

One of the key priorities in Lisa’s Police and Crime Plan is to tackle violence against women and girls. Her office commissions a network of services focusing on crime prevention and victim support.

Police in Surrey are already dedicated to improving convictions for serious sexual offending, and specially-trained Sexual Offence Liaison Officers were introduced in 2020 to support victims.

As part of Soteria, officers dealing with traumatic cases will also receive more support.

‘We know something has to change’

Lisa said: “There are many wonderful initiatives that I’m proud to champion and support in this county.

“However, it indisputably remains that convictions for sexual violence in Surrey and the wider UK are shockingly low.

“While reports made about a serious sexual offence in the county have seen a sustained drop over the past 12 months, and Surrey’s solved outcome rate for these reports is currently higher than the national average, we know that something has to change.

“We’re absolutely committed to bringing more criminals to justice and supporting victims as they navigate the legal system.

Commissioner’s vow

“However, it’s also important to say that those who aren’t yet ready to disclose offences to the police can still access the services of both RASASC and the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, even if they decide to remain anonymous.

“We also know there is more work to be done to support those affected by this terrible crime. A key issue in this county is a lack of appropriate counselling services, and we are taking steps to address this.

“I would urge anyone suffering in silence to come forward, no matter the circumstances. You will find support and kindness from our officers here in Surrey, and from the organisations and charities established to help survivors.

“You are not alone.”

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

Commissioner hails pay rise for ‘hard working’ police officers in Surrey

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has said she is delighted that hard working police officers in Surrey have been recognised with a 7% pay rise announced today.

The government revealed they had accepted recommendations from the Police Remuneration Review Body meaning police officers of all ranks in England and Wales are in line for the increase from September this year.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Our policing teams put themselves in harm’s way and go above and beyond on a daily basis to keep our communities safe in Surrey.

“So I am delighted to see the government recognising the amazing job they do with this pay award which is the least the deserve for the service they provide for our residents.

“I know from speaking to our teams in Surrey that increased energy bills, mortgage and food costs are biting deep for everyone. So I hope this pay increase will at least go some way to helping ease the day-to-day pressures they are facing with the cost of living.

“The Home Office have said there will be significant government funding to help meet this rise which is welcomed and really important. We will of course need to examine the detail closely and in particular what this will mean for our future plans for the Surrey Police budget.

“Thanks to the extra number of officers recruited during the government’s Uplift programme over the last three years, we now have more in the Surrey Police ranks than ever before.

“But it is vital that we are able to retain them and I am hopeful this pay award will help us meet that challenge in Surrey over the coming months.”