Category: News

PCC makes final decision not to seek change of governance for Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro has today announced he has made a final decision not to seek a change of governance for the Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey.

The PCC said he believes any potential change would not benefit residents who would be better served by the service continuing to explore better collaboration with police and regional fire colleagues.

Following the introduction of the government’s Policing and Crime Act 2017, the PCC’s office carried out a detailed project last year which looked at options for the future of Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

The Act placed a duty on emergency services to collaborate and made provision for PCCs to take on the role of governance for Fire and Rescue Authorities where there is a business case to do so. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is currently part of Surrey County Council.

The PCC announced in November last year that following the detailed analysis he would not be seeking an immediate change in governance.

However he delayed making a final decision saying he wanted to allow time for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to set out plans to work more closely in collaboration with colleagues in East and West Sussex and a more focused and ambitious effort to enhance blue-light collaborative activity in Surrey.

Having now further reviewed his original decision, the PCC said he is satisfied progress has been made and although more needs to be done – a change in governance is not necessary to achieve this so he will not be proceeding with a business case.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro said: “This has been a really important project and I was clear from the outset that retaining an effective Fire and Rescue Service for the residents of Surrey would be at heart of any decision on its future.

“I believe in providing the best possible value for money for our residents and our analysis has shown that a change in governance could prove very costly to the Surrey tax-payer. To justify these costs, there would need to be a convincing case such as a failing fire service which is not the case in this county.

“Following our detailed analysis last year, I felt I wanted to give time to ensure future plans were properly in place for better blue light and regional fire and rescue collaboration.

“I remain convinced that fundamentally we can do more to align blue light services in Surrey, but a change in governance is not the answer and it is in our residents best interests to continue to focus on collaboration.

“I believe Surrey Fire and Rescue do a great job protecting our public and I look forward to Surrey Police continuing to work closely with them in the future to provide the most effective emergency services we can.”

“We urgently need transit sites in Surrey” – PCC responds to recent unauthorised encampments across the county

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro has said transit sites providing temporary stopping places for Travellers must be introduced in Surrey following a number of recent unauthorised encampments.

The PCC has been in regular dialogue in the last few weeks with Surrey Police and various local councils who have been dealing with encampments in areas across the county including Cobham, Guildford, Woking, Godstone, Spelthorne and Earlswood.

The use of transit sites providing temporary stopping places with proper facilities have proved successful in other areas of the country – but there are currently none in Surrey.

The PCC has now submitted a response to a government consultation on unauthorised encampments calling for the shortage of transit sites and lack of accommodation provision to be urgently addressed.

The joint response has been sent on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and gives views on issues such as police powers, community relations and working with local authorities. The PCC is the APCC national lead for Equalities, Diversity and Human Rights which includes Gypsies, Roma and Travellers (GRT).

The submission can be viewed in full by clicking here.

The PCC said he met last year with various borough council leaders and wrote to the Chair of the Surrey Leaders Group regarding transit sites but has been frustrated by the lack of progress. He is now writing to all MPs and council leaders in Surrey to ask for their support in the urgent provision of sites in the county.

He said: “This summer has so far seen unauthorised encampments at a number of locations across Surrey which has inevitably caused some disruption and concern to local communities and increased the strain on police and local authority resources.

“I know the police and local councils have been working hard to take the appropriate action where necessary but the key issue here is the lack of suitable transit sites for GRT communities to access. There are currently no transit sites at all in Surrey and we are increasingly seeing Traveller groups setting up unauthorised encampments in the county.

“They are often served with orders by the police or local authority and then move on to another location nearby where the process begins again. This needs to change and I will be redoubling my efforts at both a local and national level to push for the introduction of transit sites in Surrey.

“The provision of these sites, while not a complete solution, would do much to provide that careful balance which is so important between lessening the impact on settled communities and meeting the needs of the Traveller communities. They will also give the police extra powers to direct those in unauthorised encampments to a designated place.

“What we must not allow is any heightened tensions created by unauthorised encampments to be used as an excuse for intolerance, discrimination or hate crime towards the GRT community.

“As the national APCC lead for EDHR issues, I am committed to helping challenge misconceptions around the GRT community and seeking a longer term solution that will benefit all communities.”

PCC launches refreshed Police and Crime Plan for Surrey

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro says he wants to build on progress made and continue improving the policing service for Surrey residents as he launches his refreshed Police and Crime Plan for the county today.

The PCC says the revised plan is designed to ensure Surrey Police stay ahead of new crimes, crack down on emerging trends such as the recent rise in burglary and ensure victims of crime are properly supported.

He has also highlighted working closely with communities to solve local issues and providing a police force that is both value for money and equipped to meet the challenges of the future as key priorities.

The plan, which is published today, is designed to set out the strategic direction for Surrey Police until 2020 and replaces the original plan which was launched after the PCC took up his post two year ago.

You can read it in full by clicking here: Police and Crime Plan 2018-2020

The six priorities in the new plan are:

Tackling Crime and Keeping Surrey Safe

Building Confident Communities

Supporting Victims

Preventing Harm

Making Every Pound Count

A Force Fit for the Future

PCC David Munro said: “When I took office just over two years ago, I issued my original Police and Crime Plan which set out the priorities for policing, crime reduction and community safety in Surrey.

“Much has been achieved since then – we have a stable top team under the Chief Constable and a new policing model has been successfully implemented allowing Surrey Police to balance demands from serious and complex crimes with the need to retain visible, local policing.

“The Force is on a more stable financial footing for the future and importantly, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Police and Fire & Rescue Services has recognised the improvements made with improved grades across the board in recent inspections.

“However, there is always more to do and I believe it is vital we maintain that momentum and build on the progress already made.

“The best plans are ones that continue to evolve over time so the half-way point of my current four year term of office is a good time to refresh my Police and Crime Plan with the priorities I believe Surrey Police need to focus on in the next two years.

“Tackling crime and keeping people safe, building confident communities, combatting terrorism and supporting victims remain at the heart of what the plan is setting out to achieve.

“I would like to thank all those residents that took part in the consultation on this plan and shared their views on the priorities and policing in general in Surrey.

“Surrey is a fantastic place to live and work and together with the Chief Constable, I am committed to helping deliver a policing service its residents can be proud of.

“I would urge people to carry on giving us your suggestions and comments and help us continue to shape the future of policing in this county.”

PCC backs call for Finn’s Law to protect police animals

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro has backed calls for new legislation to help protect police animals known as Finn’s Law.

The PCC met police dog Finn and his handler PC Dave Wardell from Hertfordshire Police to hear their story when they came to visit Surrey Police’s Mount Browne Headquarters.

Finn was stabbed in the head as he tried to protect PC Wardell, from a robbery suspect in Stevenage in 2016 leaving him with serious injuries.

PC Wardell was also stabbed in the hand but was protected from further harm by Finn’s actions and says he believes his “best friend” saved his life.

Finn’s attacker however could only be charged with criminal damage in accordance with the current law and the Finn’s Law campaign was subsequently launched with the aim of reclassifying an attack on a service animal which would increase maximum sentences to five years.

The Service Animals (Offences) Bill is currently going through parliament and the PCC has written to Sir Oliver Heald MP, who is actively pursuing the change in law, to pledge his full support.

PCC David Munro said: “It was a pleasure to meet both Finn and his handler PC Dave Wardell and to hear the remarkable story of how Finn was seriously injured while saving his life from a violent criminal.

“Fortunately he survived that attack but it shows the real danger that service animals can face on a regular basis. That is why I fully support the creation of a ‘Finn’s Law’ which is aimed at protecting our police dogs and horses by introducing stronger sentences for violent criminals who harm them.

“I know from the many comments I have had from all ranks in Surrey Police and elsewhere that this has widespread support across the country.

“Police dogs and horses are a vital part of the police’s crime-fighting capability and I believe it is time for service animals to be afforded the full protection of the law by making it a specific offence to attempt to injure them or impede them carrying out their important duties. We owe them no less.”

PCC welcomes government consultation on unauthorised encampments

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro has today welcomed a new government consultation paper as a significant milestone in addressing the issue of unauthorised Traveller encampments.

The consultation, launched yesterday, is seeking views on a number of new proposals including the creation of a new offence around aggravated trespass, the widening of police powers and the provision of transit sites.

The PCC is the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) national lead for Equalities, Diversity and Human Rights which includes Gypsies, Roma and Travellers (GRT).

Last year, he wrote directly to the Home Secretary and the Secretaries of State for the Ministry of Justice and Department for Communities and Local Government asking them to lead the way in commissioning a wide-ranging and detailed report on the issue of unauthorised encampments.

In the letter, he called on the government to examine a number of key areas including a renewed drive to make greater provision for transit sites.

PCC David Munro said: “Last year we saw an unprecedented number of unauthorised encampments in Surrey and elsewhere in the country. These often result in tensions in our communities and put a strain on police and local authority resources.

“I have previously called for a nationally coordinated approach to what is a complex issue so I am really pleased to see this consultation looking at a range of measures to address it.

“Unauthorised encampments often result from an insufficient supply of permanent or transit pitches for travelling communities to use so I am particularly heartened to see this featured.

“Whilst it is only a minority that cause negativity and disruption, it is also important the consultation paper includes a review of the powers police and other agencies have in dealing with criminality when it occurs.

“As the national APCC lead for EDHR issues, I remain committed to helping challenge misconceptions around the GRT community which too often suffers discrimination and victimisation which can never be tolerated.

“We must seek that fine balance in addressing the impact on our local communities whilst at the same time meeting the needs of the travelling community.

“This consultation marks a really important step towards finding better solutions for all communities and I will be watching with interest to see the results.”

To learn more about the government consultation – click here

HMICFRS Police Effectiveness Report: PCC hails further Surrey Police improvements

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro has hailed further improvements made by Surrey Police in keeping people safe and reducing crime highlighted in an independent report released today (Thursday 22 March).

The Force has retained an overall ‘good’ rating by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in their Police Effectiveness 2017 report – part of its annual assessment of police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL).

The HMICFRS inspects all forces and then judges how effective they are at preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour, investigating crime and reducing re-offending, protecting vulnerable people and tackling serious and organised crime.

Surrey Police are rated good in every category in today’s report in which the Force was commended for its “continuous improvement”. Read the full report here

In particular, the HMICFRS praised the service it provides to vulnerable victims and the progress made in both the quality of investigations and the response to domestic abuse.

While some areas for improvement were identified such as the approach to reducing re-offending, the HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham said she was “very pleased” with the overall performance.

PCC David Munro said: “I would like to echo the views expressed by the HMICFRS in commending the continued improvements made by Surrey Police in keeping people safe, supporting victims and reducing crime.

“The Force can be really proud of how far it has come in the last two years, particularly in the way its protects vulnerable people. I am delighted to see the sheer hard work and tenacity of officers and staff at all levels being applauded in this report.

“Whilst it is right to celebrate what has been achieved, we cannot afford to be complacent for a moment and there is always room for improvement. HMICFRS have highlighted areas where further progress is required such as reducing re-offending which is currently an area of particular focus for my office.

“We will be launching our reducing re-offending strategy in the very near future and I am committed to working with the Chief Constable to improve performance in this area going forward.”

PCC wants to hear public’s views on revised Police and Crime Plan

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro is asking for the public’s views on his proposal to refresh his Police and Crime Plan for the county.

By law, the PCC has to produce a plan which sets the strategic direction for the Force and provides the basis for how he holds the Chief Constable to account.

The PCC has decided that half way through his current four year term of office, he wants to further develop his original plan and is seeking the public’s views on a new draft through a short survey that can be found here: Police and Crime Plan Survey

The draft plan features six revised priorities as below and can be viewed here: Draft Plan

Tackling Crime and Keeping Surrey Safe

Building Confident Communities

Supporting Victims

Preventing Harm

Making Every Pound Count

A Force Fit for the Future

PCC David Munro said: “It is approaching two years since I took office and I believe now is a good time to revisit my Police and Crime Plan and refresh the six priorities within it.

“When I launched my original plan in the summer of 2016, I stated I wanted to help deliver a policing service the public can be proud of. Since then some real progress has been achieved.

“Under a stable Chief Officer team, a new policing model has been successfully embedded in Surrey allowing the police to balance demands from serious and complex crimes with the need to retain visible, local policing.

“At the same time Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Police and Fire & Rescue Services has recognised improvements made by the Force with improved grades in recent inspections, particularly in protecting vulnerable people.

“We must never rest on our laurels however and over the next two years I want to see Surrey Police, my office and our partners build on this progress. The best plans are ones that evolve over time so I want to update my Police and Crime Plan to reflect the challenges I believe Surrey Police need to tackle in the coming months.

“We must continue to stay ahead of new crimes, crack down on emerging trends as they occur such as the current increase in burglary, support victims and keep all of Surrey’s communities safe.

“The public have a key role to play I would like as many people as possible to take a few minutes to fill in our survey, give us their views and help us continue to shape the future of policing in this county.”

The survey can be filled in here and will be open until April 9.

Search for new Surrey Police HQ begins as part of future estates programme

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The search for a new Force headquarters site in Surrey is underway as part of a long-term estates programme announced today by the Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro and Surrey Police.

Work has begun to identify a new location in a more central area of Surrey, likely to be in the Leatherhead/Dorking area, to replace the current HQ at Mount Browne in Guildford.

The plans are designed to deliver long-term savings by moving out and disposing of some of the current outdated and costly buildings and creating a modern and cost-effective estate that will allow the Force to meet the challenges of modern policing.

The project is expected to take at least four to five years to complete and the planning team, which is led by the Chief Officer Group and the PCC, have instructed agents to start the search.

If a suitable building can be found, it will replace the current sites at Woking and Mount Browne and also Reigate police station as the main eastern divisional base.

Depending on the final location, the site may also provide a central Surrey hub for Roads Policing and Armed Response teams. Area Policing Teams and Safer Neighbourhood Teams will continue to operate from their boroughs.

Guildford and Staines police stations will remain as they are, predominantly accommodating Western and Northern divisional teams.

A number of factors were considered in deciding the narrowed search location such as ensuring specialist teams are able to respond effectively to county-wide demand and that Surrey Police are well placed to build ever-stronger links with partner forces in the South East.

PCC David Munro said: “This has been a big decision to make but the most important factor in planning the future of our estate in Surrey is that we provide value for money for the public.

“It is no secret that some of our current buildings, including the Mount Browne HQ site, are outdated, poor quality and expensive to manage and maintain. At a time when we are asking the public to pay for more through their council tax precept, we must ensure this isn’t committed in the long term to run a costly, restrictive estate.

“Mount Browne has been at the centre of policing in this county for almost 70 years and has played a key part in the proud history of Surrey Police. Equally, I am well aware that the two other sites in Woking and Reigate have been important locations for local residents and our plans must ensure our local neighbourhood presence for those communities is unaffected.

“But we must look to the future and designing a new HQ gives us a unique opportunity to really think about what we could do differently to deliver an even better service to the public. We have looked carefully at the potential budget for the project and whilst there will be inevitable relocation costs involved, I am satisfied that this investment will provide savings in the long-term.

“Whilst this decision marks an important milestone, we are still at an early stage in our plans and there is much work to do in identifying and securing the right location. However I feel it is important to be transparent about our proposals and share our thinking with our staff and the wider public at this juncture.

“This is an exciting opportunity to shape the look and feel of the Force for future generations. We know that to thrive in the years ahead the ability to adapt to ongoing changes in policing will be important, and this will be at the forefront of our thinking as we look at modernising our working environments and practices”.

Deputy Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “Surrey Police is a modern, vibrant organisation with a very proud heritage. To meet future policing challenges we need a modern estate, supported by effective technology and new ways of working. Our teams, and the communities we serve deserve nothing less.

“These plans reflect our ambition to be an outstanding force, an attractive employer able to provide high quality policing in the heart of our communities.”

HMICFRS Legitimacy report: PCC encouraged as Surrey Police retains ‘good’ rating

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro said he is encouraged to see Surrey Police continuing to treat people fairly and ethically following the latest assessment from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMICFRS) published today (Tuesday 12 December).

The Force has maintained its overall ‘good’ rating in the HMICFRS’s Legitimacy strand of their annual inspections into police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL).

The inspection looks at how police forces across England and Wales operate in terms of treating the people they serve, ensuring their workforce acts ethically and lawfully and treating their workforce with fairness and respect.

Whilst the report recognised that Surrey Police and its workforce had a good understanding of treating people fairly and with respect – it did highlight that some areas concerning staff and officer wellbeing required improvement.

PCC David Munro said: “Keeping the trust and faith of the communities they serve is absolutely crucial for police forces so I welcome today’s assessment by the HMICFRS.

“It is pleasing to see the effort to ensure people are treated with fairness and respect has been sustained by Surrey Police over the last year and the ‘good’ rating has been retained.

“I was particularly heartened to see the HMICFRS recognise the Chief Constable and his top team as actively promoting a culture which ensures their workforce behaves ethically and lawfully.

“I have noted however that the HMICFRS highlighted staff and officer wellbeing could be better addressed by improving access to support services while high workloads were a concern.

“Policing is not an easy profession and our officers and staff do a fantastic job working around the clock to keep our county safe, often in extremely challenging and stressful circumstances.

“At a time when demand on the police service is ever increasing we must do everything we possibly can to look after our workforce and ensure supporting their wellbeing is a priority.

“The HMICFRS have said they are confident the Force has recognised where improvements can be made and I pledge to work with the Chief Constable to provide whatever help I can to achieve them.

“Overall this report is a solid foundation to build on and I will be looking to the Force to improve even further in the future.”

To read the full report on the inspection visit www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic.

HMICFRS Efficiency Report: PCC responds to ‘good’ grading for Surrey Police

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro has said he is pleased Surrey Police has maintained the efficiency in which it keeps people safe and reduces crime following a report published today.

The Force has retained its ‘good’ rating by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in the ‘Efficiency’ strand of its annual inspections into police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL).

The inspection looks at how police forces across England and Wales operate in terms of managing resources, identifying current and future demand and financial planning.

In the report released today, the HMICFRS assessed the Force as good in both its understanding of and planning for demand. However it identified improvement was required in its use of resources to manage that demand.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro said: “I am encouraged to see the sustained effort Surrey Police has made over the last year to ensure the efficiency with which they operate as highlighted by the HMICFRS today.

“It should be recognised this has been achieved at a particularly challenging time for policing when demand is increasing and the financial pressure forces find themselves under is continuing to grow.

“I have already stated that the need to identify future savings means some difficult choices may lie ahead so it is positive to see the report has identified the Force has good plans in place and is seeking further opportunities to save money.

“Following last year’s Efficiency report, I highlighted the urgent need for improvement in the Force’s 101 response. So I was particularly pleased to see the HMICFRS recognise the ‘significant progress’ Surrey Police has made in reducing the number of abandoned 101 calls and the quality of service provided in relation to all calls from the public.

“There is always room for improvement of course and areas needing attention have been highlighted such as how well Surrey Police is using its resources and understanding the workforce’s capabilities.

“Bearing in mind the current strain on the budget, these are important areas to address and I am committed to working with the Chief Constable to implement any improvements required.”

The full report on the inspection can be found at: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/police-forces/surrey/