Category: News

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro is urging the government to change the law to make setting up unauthorised traveller encampments a criminal offence.

The PCC said he believes that criminalising the act of trespass in relation to encampments will give police tougher and more effective powers to deal with them when they appear.

However, the Commissioner said this must be coupled with a concerted effort to provide temporary transit sites to direct travellers to.

The PCC has outlined his views in a response to a Home Office consultation which sought responses from local authorities, police and the public on criminalising the act of trespassing when setting up an unauthorised encampment in England and Wales.

The consultation, which closed this week, also asked for opinions on amending sections of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to provide alternative powers to police forces.

For more details – click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-consults-on-new-police-powers-to-criminalise-unauthorised-encampments

In 2018, Surrey had an unprecedented number of unauthorised encampments in the county. While that number was reduced last year, the PCC has continued to press for the shortage of transit sites and lack of accommodation provision to be addressed. There are currently none in Surrey.

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) and has regularly sought the views of PCC colleagues across the country on the issues surrounding unauthorised encampments.

PCC David Munro said: “Unfortunately, some unauthorised encampments cause misery and disruption to our local communities and put a huge strain on police and local authority resources.

“It is a complex and challenging issue but as Police and Crime Commissioner for this county I have to make the public’s concerns my number one priority.

“Over the last few years I have visited a number of communities in Surrey where unauthorised encampments have been set up and sympathise with the residents who understandably want their local area protected.

The Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro has written to the Ministry of Justice to highlight concerns over the pressure caused by delays to court hearings held in Surrey.

The PCC says delays are having a significant impact on vulnerable victims and witnesses, as well as on the partner agencies involved in bringing cases to trial.

Examples include victims who may be deemed as high risk of harm involved in long running cases, and defendants continuing to be detained in custody between delayed hearings. In some instances, at the conclusion of their trial, young people may be over 18 years old and therefore sentenced as an adult.

In October 2019, cases had taken an average of seven to eight months to reach trial from preparation stage, compared to between three and eight months in 2018. Allocation of ‘sitting days’ has significantly reduced in the South-East Region; Guildford Crown Court alone has been required to make 300 days’ worth of savings.

PCC David Munro said: “Experiencing this delay can have a significant impact on vulnerable victims and witnesses, as well defendants. I have invested significantly in support for victims, including the creation of a new unit within Surrey Police, which works hard to not only help victims cope and recover, but also to maintain their confidence and engagement in the criminal justice system.

“Surrey Police performance for civilian witness attendance is currently 9th in the country and above the national average.

Extra officers and staff will be added to the Surrey Police establishment over the next year after Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro’s proposed council tax precept rise was approved earlier today.

The PCC’s suggested 3.84% increase for the policing element of the council tax was given the green light by the county’s Police and Crime Panel during a meeting at County Hall in Kingston-upon-Thames this morning.

It means that Surrey Police will be able to invest in further officer and staff posts to add to the 78 police officers that have been promised by government as Surrey’s initial share of the national programme to recruit 20,000.

In total, the combined funding will allow the Force to add around 100 police officer posts and 50 staff roles to its establishment during 2020/21.

These roles will bolster the neighbourhood policing service across the county, help tackle issues such as burglary, serious organised crime and drugs, support prevention work and help maximise technology in the fight against online crime.

This in addition to the extra 79 officers and frontline staff paid for by last year’s precept rise which also prevented the loss of 25 other posts. Those recruits will all be in post or doing their training by May this year.

Today’s decision will mean the policing element of an average Band D Council Tax bill will be set at £270.57 – an increase of £10 a year. It equates to around a 3.83% increase across all council tax bands.

The PCC’s office carried out a public consultation throughout January in which over 3,100 respondents answered a survey with their views on either a 2% inflationary increase or a 5% increase to further invest in more officers and staff. That 5% figure was adjusted to 3.83% in late January to reflect the maximum level the government will allow PCCs to raise as part of this year’s police settlement – the announcement of which was delayed due to the General Election.

The Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro says this year’s government settlement for policing represents good news for Surrey residents who will see more officers on the streets of the county over the next year.

The Home Office announced today that they were increasing the amount of funding available to police forces to enable them to recruit the first wave of the 20,000 officers that have been promised nationally.

This includes an increase in core central grant provided to forces and giving PCC’s the flexibility to raise a maximum of £10 a year on an average Band D property through this year’s council tax precept. This equates to around 3.8% across all council tax property bands.

PCC David Munro said: “Today’s announcement is good news for our communities and means we can continue to strengthen our local policing presence which I know is what the people of Surrey want to see.

“It is a step in the right direction by the government to repair the damage caused by years of cuts to the police service across the country. I hope this will mark the start of a brighter future for policing in this county and I promise to ensure any extra funding is spent wisely.

“The government is funding the promised uplift in officer numbers nationally which will mean an extra 78 in Surrey over the next financial year. This is in addition to the 79 extra officers and operational staff and the 25 posts saved from being cut made possible by last year’s precept rise.

Would you be prepared to pay a little extra on your council tax bill to further improve the policing service in Surrey?

That is the question the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro is asking residents as he launches his annual public consultation on the policing element of the council tax known as the precept.

The PCC is seeking the public’s views on whether they would support either a 5% rise for the next year which would allow further investment in more officers and staff or a 2% inflationary increase which would allow Surrey Police to maintain a steady course during 2020/21.

A 5% rise would equate to around a £13 a year rise for an average Band D property while 2% would mean an extra £5 on a Band D annual bill.

The Commissioner is inviting the public to have their say by filling in a short online survey which can be found HERE

Together with Surrey Police, the PCC is also carrying out a series of public engagement events in every borough in the county in the next five weeks to hear people’s views in person. You can sign up to your nearest event by clicking HERE

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

This year, budget planning is more difficult due to the government’s settlement announcement, which outlines both the amount of grant and maximum level PCCs can raise through the precept, being delayed because of the general election.

The settlement is normally announced in December but is now not expected until late January. With a proposed budget needing to be finalised in early February, this has restricted financial planning whilst also meaning the window for seeking public feedback is much shorter than usual.

Last year Surrey residents agreed to pay 10% extra in return for increasing front-line officer and operational staff posts by an additional 79 whilst protecting 25 other police posts that would have been lost. All those new staff will be in post and doing their training by May 2020.

It was announced in October that Surrey will receive central funding for an extra 78 police officers over the coming year as part of the government’s programme to increase police officer numbers nationally by 20,000.

To complement that uplift in police numbers, a 5% increase in police council tax would allow Surrey Police to invest in:

• A further uplift in local police officers providing a visible presence in local communities
• Extra Neighbourhood Support Police Officers and Youth Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) to prevent and help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and provide local community engagement
• Police staff who can carry out investigations and help keep officers out visible to the public
• Police staff who can analyse complex data to match police resources to demand and who can carry out forensic analysis of computers and phones

Surrey Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey are teaming up again in the New Year to hold the next series of public engagement events across Surrey.

The ‘Policing Your Community’ events are coming to every borough and district in the county between 8th January and 5^th February 2020.

They will be an opportunity for residents to hear from Surrey Police’s Chief Officer Group on future plans and current challenges as well as to ask questions and engage with their local Borough Commander on issues affecting their communities.

There will also be a chance to talk to Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro about proposals for the 2020-21 Council Tax Precept and to take part in his public consultation.

Arrival for all events begins at 6:45pm with presentations starting at 7pm. Events are free to attend – but residents are urged to register their attendance by clicking on the link to their local event below:

8th January – Camberley Theatre
9th January – Dorking Halls
14th January – Elmbridge Civic Centre
15th January – Hazelwood Centre
21st January – Woking LightBox
27th January – Longmead Centre
28th January – Harlequin Theatre and Cinema
29th January – Chertsey Hall
30th January – S. Godstone Community Hall
3rd February – Farnham Maltings
5th February – Guildford Harbour Hotel

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro has called on the Home Office to consider urgent action in tackling the increased recreational use of Nitrous Oxide.

The PCC said the canisters, known as ‘laughing gas’, are too easy to get hold of and their personal use amongst young people is becoming a growing concern in Surrey.

Although the supply of Nitrous Oxide for psychoactive purposes is illegal – it is readily available for legitimate in medicine, baking or for aerosols and can be easily bought online or in party shops.

The PCC wrote to the Policing Minister Kit Malthouse earlier this month asking the Home Office to consider learning from recent legislation changes on other psychoactive substances in considering the course of action to take on Nitrous Oxide.

He cited rising concerns at the effects on the health and behaviour of young people inhaling the gas and the negative impact on local residents as reasons why attention needed to be given to the issue.

The Policing Minister has responded to the letter saying the government taking active steps to address the issue and outlining the current law and guidance provided to retailers to pay particular attention to the potential for abuse by customers. This includes the need to protect the safety of young people and vulnerable groups.

PCC David Munro said: “I speak to residents on a regular basis across the county and I am all too often hearing that the use of Nitrous Oxide is causing real concern in a number of areas.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro and Surrey Police have announced their support for declaring a climate emergency.

The PCC has said the Force is committed to regarding climate change as having significant implications for Surrey’s communities and wants to play its part by reducing its carbon footprint in the county.

Surrey County Council declared a climate emergency in July this year and eight of the 11 Borough and District Councils in the county have since followed suit – including those areas where Surrey Police has a significant estates footprint.

The PCC and Chief Constable Gavin Stephens have stated they fully back the move and a strategy is now being developed for Surrey Police through its Environmental Board with the aim of making the organisation carbon-neutral by 2030.

This includes reducing transport emissions and waste and incorporating that strategy into plans being drawn up for the Force estate – including the future move to a new headquarters and operational base in Leatherhead.

Energy reductions targets are also being put in place which will look at a reduction in the use of gas, electricity and water where possible.

PCC David Munro said: “Climate change affects everyone and as an organisation employing over 4,000 people, I firmly believe we have a responsibility in ensuring we play our part in policing to protect the environment we live in.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro said the county’s share of the first wave of an extra 20,000 officers nationwide will be ‘gratefully received and wisely used’ following the government’s allocation announcement today.

However the PCC has expressed his disappointment that Surrey Police has been left ‘short changed’ by the process being based on the current central government grant system. Surrey has the lowest percentage grant of any force in the country.

The Home Office revealed today how the first intake of those extra officers, originally announced this summer, will be distributed across all 43 forces in England and Wales over the first year of a three year programme.

The recruitment target they have set for Surrey is 78 by the end of 2020/21.

The Government is providing £750 million to support forces to recruit up to 6,000 additional officers by the end of that financial year. They have also pledged funding for recruitment will cover all associated costs, including training and kit.

The PCC said the uplift will help bolster ranks across the Force and he was keen to see numbers strengthened in areas such as neighbourhood policing, fraud and cybercrime and roads policing.

Surrey Police has already launched its own recruitment drive in recent months to fill a number of roles which includes the uplift of 104 officers and operational staff created by PCC’s increased council tax precept.

The PCC wrote to the Home Secretary last week saying he didn’t want to see the allocation process based on the grant system which would leave Surrey at an unfair disadvantage.

In the letter, the PCC also called for the amount of reserves forces have to be part of the equation. Surrey Police currently has no general reserves beyond the safe minimum having used unallocated funds to shore up revenue budgets over recent years.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro said: “The addition of 20,000 new officers is a much needed shot in the arm for policing nationwide and Surrey’s share of that uplift will be a welcome boost for our communities.