Category: Role and responsibilities

The Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) Scheme overseen by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has been recognised nationally this month, as it attained Platinum status for the quality of its work in Surrey.

Under the scheme, volunteers from the local community make unannounced visits to Surrey Police custody to check on the rights, wellbeing, and dignity of detainees.

In the year to March, Independent Custody Visiting Volunteers (ICVs) made 172 visits and spent over 400 hours in custody suites across Surrey.

By listening to individuals in custody, they provide valuable and independent oversight of the care that is provided when an individual is detained.

By shining a spotlight on the processes, people and environments within custody, their recommendations cover everything from ensuring that there are enough blankets in winter, to safeguarding someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Visits are held at all hours and the findings are reported back to the Commissioner and Surrey Police in a cycle that promotes continuous improvement.

The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) judges schemes every three years based on its quality assurance framework that assesses how well schemes comply with a Code of Practice for custody.

At an ICVA event Birmingham, Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson joined Surrey’s ICV Scheme Manager Erika Dallinger as she received the Platinum award that represents the highest level of accreditation possible for schemes across England and Wales.

While ‘Gold’ standard reflects a scheme that provides an excellent standard of custody visiting and volunteer management, the ‘Platinum’ award goes further to recognise those areas where the service is ‘outstanding’.

Welcoming the award, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I am incredibly proud of the hard work of our Independent Custody Visitors and of my ICV Scheme Manager in Surrey.

“The Scheme is essential in providing an independent eye on an area of policing that happens ‘behind the scenes’ but can be responsible for the care of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“Together with custody staff, volunteers play an incredibly important part in maintaining the transparency and trust in policing that is so important to my office and Surrey Police.

“I’d like to congratulate them on this award that recognises their outstanding contribution.”

Dame Anne Owers, Chair of ICVA, said: “Independent custody visiting schemes ensure that the public have oversight of a high pressure and often hidden area of policing. These awards demonstrate how local schemes use volunteer feedback to make change and ensure that police custody is safe and dignified for all.”

Learn more about the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme at https://www.surrey-pcc.gov.uk/performance/independent-custody-visiting/

Record funding for local services and more police officers than ever before in Surrey are among key achievements highlighted in the Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s Annual Report published today. 

Since April 2022, over £5m was awarded to charities and other organisations in the county that improve community safety and reduce vulnerabilities, support victims of crime and help tackle the root causes of offending.

The Commissioner also praised Surrey Police following the recruitment of 395 new police officers since 2019 – making the Force the biggest it has ever been.

The report focuses on the progress made against each of the priorities in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan that include preventing violence against women and girls, protecting people from harm, working with Surrey communities so that they feel safe and ensuring safer Surrey roads. 

Read the full Report here.

Funding from the Commissioner’s office provided more specialist advisors to support survivors of sexual violence, stalking and domestic abuse, increased help for children and young people affected by crime. Whilst over £700,000 from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund was secured for three projects to boost local safety in Sunbury Cross, Addlestone and Epsom. 
 
The year also saw the launch of new initiatives including the county’s first Community Safety Assembly bringing partners together to tackle joint issues such as anti-social behaviour and ill mental health, and landmark projects to prevent violence against women and girls. 

A first-of-its-kind Data Hub was unveiled, allowing residents to see the latest information about Surrey Police performance that the Commissioner uses to hold the Chief Constable to account, while a dedicated Youth Commission was established to enhance the voices of children and young people on police and crime matters. 

The Annual Report also looks ahead to future challenges and opportunities for policing in the county, including maintaining police officer and staff numbers, improving the service received when calling the county’s 101 non-emergency number and embracing new technology.  

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Since I was elected in 2021, Surrey residents have told me they want to see more police officers taking the fight to criminals in the county. I am delighted that we have now have record numbers of police officers in Surrey, together with dedicated police staff and volunteers that are giving local policing a real boost. 
 
“I have also overseen an increased scrutiny of Surrey Police performance, including supporting improvements to the service received when residents dial 101, the partnership response to anti-social behaviour and a renewed focus on ensuring we maintain the trust in policing that is so vital to protecting our communities. 

“I would like to thank everyone who has been in contact with me in the last year. I remain committed to ensuring the voice of residents remains at the heart of the conversations I have with the Chief Constable of Surrey Police and encourage anyone who is interested to subscribe to my monthly updates via my website.  

“My eternal thanks go to all those who work for Surrey Police for their tireless efforts to keep our communities safe. I would also like to thank all the volunteers, charities, and organisations we have worked with and the staff in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for their support over the last year.” 

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner and her Deputy have reaffirmed their commitment to working with those who have served their country after achieving silver level status under the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme Award.

Lisa Townsend and her Deputy, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, said they “will do all they can” to support serving and former armed forces personnel and their families.

Surrey Police, which is an armed forces-friendly organisation, has also achieved silver status as part of the scheme.

The award is given to employers who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrated their support to defence and the armed forces community.

It acts as an assurance that forces personnel, veterans and Reservists, as well as their spouses and their children, are treated with fairness and respect.

Both the Commissioner’s Office and the Force had previously been awarded bronze status, but were upgraded to silver following their efforts. The Office was among the first of its kind in the country to sign up to the Covenant in 2017, and has become the first Commissioner’s office in the south east to attain silver status.

Lisa said: “Servicemen and women, both past and present, make an enormous contribution to our society.

“They deserve all the support we are able to offer.

“Many veterans will decide to join the police service as either officers or staff after leaving the armed forces, and that is something both Surrey Police and my Office are very proud of.

“Others may struggle as they return to civilian life. It is crucial that we support these people wherever it is possible to do so.”

Ellie, who holds responsibility for military personnel and veterans, as well as children and young people, as part of her remit, said: “Surrey has a long association with the armed forces and we are home to many military personnel and their families.

“Understanding the uniqueness of life in the armed forces community is incredibly important. Providing welcoming employment opportunities that value and utilise their vast transferable skills and life experience is key to supporting those transitioning into civilian life.

“I am also aware of the impact that a military lifestyle can have on children and young people growing up, which can include the stress of moving away from homes, schools and friends, as well as worry about their serving loved one.

“I am committed to ensuring that our team does everything it can, working alongside our partners, to support the children and families of serving and former personnel.”

Surrey is home to 13 veterans’ hubs, with the newest having recently opened in Banstead. See more information, or find your nearest Hub here.

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has today welcomed Tim De Meyer into his role as the new Chief Constable for Surrey Police.

The Commissioner was at the Force Headquarters in Guildford this morning to greet the incoming Chief on his first day and said she was looking forward to working closely with him in the weeks and months ahead.

Tim joined one of the policing teams in Guildford for a shift this morning before he was later officially sworn in at a brief attestation ceremony.

He was selected as the Commissioner’s preferred candidate for the post following a thorough selection process that was carried out in January. The appointment was approved by the county’s Police and Crime Panel later that same month.

Tim began his police career with the Metropolitan Police Service in 1997 and joined Thames Valley Police in 2008.

In 2012, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent for Neighbourhood Policing and Partnership before becoming Head of Professional Standards in 2014. He was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable for Crime and Criminal Justice in 2017 and moved to Local Policing in 2022.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I am delighted to welcome Tim to Surrey Police and I believe he will be an inspirational and committed leader who will guide the Force into an exciting new chapter.

“Tim brings with him a wealth of experience from a varied policing career across two different forces and will no doubt provide a fresh perspective to policing in Surrey. I am really looking forward to working with him on addressing the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan and creating a strong vision for the future of the Force.

“There is much hard work to do and it has been a difficult time for policing nationally. But I know Tim has been raring to get going and is relishing the challenges that lie ahead.

“I know Tim shares my passion in making Surrey the safest place it can be for our residents so I look forward to supporting him in tackling those issues which matter most to our local communities.”

Chief Constable Tim De Meyer said: “It is an honour to become the Chief Constable of Surrey Police. This position carries great responsibility and it is my privilege to serve Surrey’s communities alongside our Force’s excellent officers, staff, and volunteers.  

“I am grateful to everyone for making me feel so welcome and we will continue to work hard together to fight crime and protect the public.

“I look forward to working with the Police and Crime Commissioner and with our many partners to ensure that Surrey remains a safe county.”