Category: Public order

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.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Five new CCTV cameras in Walton will tackle illegal parking and anti-social behaviour

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Five new mobile CCTV cameras will be installed in Walton next week in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour, illegal parking and street drinking.

The cameras were financed through the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund, which was secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, in partnership with Elmbridge Borough Council and Surrey Police.

They will be installed in Ashley Park, Cowey Sale, Ambleside Avenue, Hepworth Way and the Drewitts Court car park during the week commencing May 27.

Walton was granted a total of £273,000. The funding will also pay for youth outreach programmes and additional security measures in the Drewitts Court car park, including speed bumps, anti-graffiti and urine paint, and improved lighting.

Improvements will also be made to the community garden at the St John’s estate.

As well as deterring rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour, illegal parking and street drinking, the cameras will be used to provide video evidence to Surrey Police, Surrey County Council and the Elmbridge Borough Council environmental enforcement team.

The installation of the cameras is also supported by local businesses, Surrey Police and Surrey County Council. It follows the recent extension of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for parts of Walton-on-Thames.

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Safer Streets is a fantastic initiative that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in Walton.

Tackling issues ‘head-on’

“Since I was first elected as Surrey’s Commissioner, I have spoken with thousands of residents and listened to their thoughts about policing in their communities.

“I know that anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood crime are key issues for those who live in Walton, and this funding allows us to tackle some of these issues head-on.”

Councillor Kirsty Hewens, Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Parking and Local Economy, said: “We want our residents and visitors to not only feel safe in Elmbridge but to take pride in our towns, parks and green spaces.

“Having these mobile cameras will act as a deterrent against street drinking, littering and illegal parking, allowing everyone to enjoy our borough.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands outside the reception of the Surrey Police Headquarters near Guildford

Commissioner applauds security operation following Epsom Derby Festival

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has applauded the security operation at this year’s Epsom Derby Festival which foiled activists attempts to disrupt the event.

Early today, police teams arrested 19 people based on intelligence received that groups were intent on illegal action during the race meeting.

One person managed to get on the track during the main Derby race but was detained following swift action from racecourse security staff and Surrey Police officers. A total of 31 arrests were made during the day in connection with planned criminality.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands outside the reception of the Surrey Police Headquarters near Guildford

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “This year’s Derby Festival has seen the biggest security operation in its history and has been an incredibly challenging event for our police teams.

“Peaceful protest is one of the cornerstones of our democracy but sadly this year’s Festival has been the target of co-ordinated criminality by activists who made clear their intention to sabotage the event.

“Protesters were offered a safe space outside the main gates to demonstrate but there were a number who clearly signalled their determination to get onto the track and halt the race proceedings.

“I fully support the action taken by the Force in making those arrests early this morning in an effort to disrupt those plans.

“Attempting to enter a racetrack when horses are running or preparing to run not only puts the protester in danger but also risks the safety of other spectators and those involved in the racing.

“It is simply not acceptable and the vast majority of the public are fed up with such reckless behaviour being carried out in the name of protest.

“Thanks to the pro-active policing operation today and the quick reactions of security staff and officers, the race passed off on time and without major incident.

“I want to thank Surrey Police, and The Jockey Club, for the enormous effort that has gone into ensuring it was a safe and secure event for everyone who attended.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend sat at table at ten downing street with heads of policing, members of Government and the Prime Minister

Commissioner welcomes government support for policing in tackling illegal climate protests

Posted on | by James Smith

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has today welcomed the support for policing pledged by government in tackling activists whose climate protests caused widespread disruption on the M25 in Surrey last month.

The Commissioner was one of a number of police leaders who attended a meeting at Downing Street last week to discuss how to combat the tactics used by environmental protest groups, such as Just Stop Oil.

She said the summit, which was attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary Suella Braverman and policing minister Chris Philp, was constructive and gave chief officers the chance to set out the challenges police forces face.

In early November, activists scaled motorway gantries at various locations on the M25 in Surrey and surrounding counties across four days causing misery for motorists and disruption to the road network.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend sat at table at ten downing street with heads of policing, members of Government and the Prime Minister

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “It was a positive meeting and I do think the government are listening to the concerns of both residents and police on tackling this issue.

“I absolutely share the frustration of the vast majority of the public here in Surrey and elsewhere who are fed up with their everyday lives are being disrupted by what is co-ordinated criminality by determined activists.

“Policing has become the public face of the response to this and some of the criticism received has been unfair.

“I saw first-hand how hard our police teams worked to combat these protests and the impact that had on our already stretched resources which could have been much better utilised in our communities.

“So I was pleased to see the Prime Minister pledging his support to policing and asking what the government could do to help.

“We need to work with the CPS, the court system and government to ensure that we can deal with those who break the law more swiftly and effectively.

“The strengthening of the Public Order Bill to include a statutory definition of “serious disruption” will also help give forces clarity over their powers in dealing with this kind of activism.

“I am a strong believer in peaceful and lawful protest but what we saw in Surrey last month went far beyond what is acceptable and put lives at risk.

“I am committed to working closely with our local partners in Surrey and my Police and Crime Commissioner colleagues nationally to ensure our police teams are given the right support to combat this kind of protest in the future.”