Category: Role and responsibilities

Front cover of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's Annual Report with image of pages from the report placed behind

Record police numbers and funding boost for Surrey communities – Commissioner publishes Annual Report for 2022/23 

Posted on | by James Smith

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.

Sunny photo of Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaking to local Surrey Police officers on their bikes on the Woking canal path

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.” 

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Ellie Vesey-Thompson standing in front of the Army Training Centre in Pirbright Surrey

“We will do all we can to support our armed forces”: Commissioner and Deputy welcome Ministry of Defence employment award

Posted on | by Alex Winter

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.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Ellie Vesey-Thompson standing in front of the Army Training Centre in Pirbright Surrey

“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.

Logo for Silver level of Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. Grey image on white background of the English royal lion holding a Union Jack flag with a crown above it. Text says Silver Award 2023
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend with Chief Constable Tim De Meyer

Commissioner welcomes new Chief Constable on his first day in post

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

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.

Attestation of new Chief Constable of Surrey Police Tim De Meyer standing alongside Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend

“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.”

female police officer in hat in foreground of a photo of new police officers standing to attention at the Surrey Police headquarters

Frontline policing protected as Commissioner’s budget proposal agreed

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said frontline policing across Surrey will be protected over the coming year after her proposed council tax rise was agreed earlier today.

The Commissioner’s suggested increase of just over 5% for the policing element of the council tax will go ahead after members of the county’s Police and Crime Panel voted to support her proposal during a meeting at Woodhatch Place in Reigate this morning.

The overall budget plans for Surrey Police were outlined to the Panel today including the level of council tax raised for policing in the county, known as the precept, which funds the Force together with a grant from central government.

The Commissioner said policing is facing significant financial challenges and the Chief Constable had been clear that without a precept increase, the Force would have to make cuts which would ultimately affect the service to Surrey residents.

However today’s decision will mean Surrey Police can continue to protect frontline services, enabling policing teams to tackle those issues important to the public and take the fight to criminals in our communities.

The policing element of an average Band D Council Tax bill will now be set at £310.57– an increase of £15 a year or £1.25 a month. It equates to around a 5.07% increase across all council tax bands.

For every pound of the precept level set, Surrey Police is funded by an extra half a million pounds. The Commissioner has said the council tax contributions make a huge difference to the service our hard-working officers and staff provide to the county and thanked residents for their ongoing support.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands outside in front of sign with office logo


The Commissioner’s office carried out a public consultation throughout December and early January in which over 3,100 respondents answered a survey with their views.

Residents were given three options – whether they would be prepared to pay the suggested £15 extra a year on their council tax bill, a figure between £10 and £15 or a figure lower than £10.

Around 57% of respondents said they would support the £15 increase, 12% voted for a figure between £10 and £15 and the remaining 31% said they would be willing to pay a lower figure.

Those who responded to the survey pinpointed burglary, anti-social behaviour and preventing neighbourhood crime as the three areas of policing they would most like to see Surrey Police focus on over the coming year.

The Commissioner said that even with the precept increase this year, Surrey Police will still need to find £17m of savings over the next four years – in addition to the £80m that has already been taken out over the last decade.

“450 extra officers and operational policing staff will have been recruited into the Force since 2019”

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Asking the public for more money this year has been an incredibly difficult decision and I have thought long and hard about the precept proposal that I put before the Police and Crime Panel today.

“I am all too aware the cost of living crisis is putting a huge squeeze on everyone’s finances. But the harsh reality is that policing is also being seriously impacted by the current financial climate too.

“There is huge pressure on pay, energy and fuel costs and the stark rise in inflation means the Surrey Police budget is under considerable strain like never before.

“When I was elected as Commissioner in 2021, I committed to put as many police officers on our streets as possible and since I have been in post, the public have told me loud and clear that is what they want to see.

“Surrey Police is currently on track to recruit the extra 98 police officers which is Surrey’s share this year of the government’s national uplift programme which I know residents are eager to see out in our communities.

“That will mean over 450 extra officers and operational policing staff will have been recruited into the Force since 2019 which I believe will make Surrey Police the strongest it has been in a generation.

“A huge amount of hard work has gone into recruiting those extra numbers but in order to maintain these levels, it is crucial that we give them the right support, training and development.

“This will mean we can get more of them out and about in our communities as soon as we can keeping people safe during these difficult times.

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to fill in our survey and give us their opinions on policing in Surrey. Over 3,000 people took part and once again showed their support for our policing teams with 57% backing the full £15 a year increase.

“We also received over 1,600 comments on a range of topics which will help inform the conversations my office has with the Force on what is important to our residents.

“Surrey Police are making progress in those areas that matter to our communities. The number of burglaries being solved is on the increase, a huge focus has been put into making our communities safer for women and girls and Surrey Police received an outstanding rating from our inspectors on preventing crime.

“But we want to do even better. In the last few weeks I have recruited Surrey’s new Chief Constable Tim De Meyer and I am determined to give him the right resources he needs so we can provide the Surrey public with the best service possible to our communities.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Chief Constable Tim De Meyer

New Chief Constable set to join Surrey Police following unanimous approval for Commissioner’s preferred candidate

Posted on | by James Smith

The new Chief Constable of Surrey Police has been confirmed as Tim De Meyer following a meeting of the county’s Police and Crime Panel yesterday.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s proposed appointment of Tim was approved by the Panel after a confirmation hearing which took place at the Surrey County Council offices in Woodhatch Place on Tuesday morning.

The Commissioner had previously declared that Tim, who is currently an Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) with Thames Valley Police, was her preferred candidate for the post following a selection process carried out earlier this 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.

He is due to replace the outgoing Chief Constable Gavin Stephens who is set to depart Surrey Police in April this year after successfully being elected as the next head of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

Tim’s suitability for the role was tested during a thorough assessment day which included questioning from some of Surrey Police’s key stakeholders and being interviewed by an appointments panel chaired by the Commissioner.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I am absolutely delighted the Panel have confirmed my appointment of Tim De Meyer and I would like to whole-heartedly congratulate him on securing the role of Chief Constable for this county.

New Chief Constable

“Tim was the outstanding candidate in a strong field during the interview process.

“His vision for forging an exciting future for policing in Surrey shone through at the meeting yesterday.

“I believe he will bring a wealth of experience from a varied policing career across two different forces and the Force will be in great hands with him at the helm.

“I was really impressed with the energy, passion and commitment he showed both on Tuesday and during the selection process, which I am confident will make him an inspirational and exceptional leader for the Force.

“I know he is really looking forward to the challenge and working with our policing teams, partners and residents in continuing to make Surrey one of the safest counties in the country for our communities.”

‘Exceptional leader’

ACC Tim De Meyer said: “It will be a privilege to be the Chief Constable of Surrey Police and I cannot wait to get started in April.

“I shall inherit the leadership of excellent officers, staff and volunteers, whose commitment to policing is plain to see.  It will be wonderful to work with them to serve the people of Surrey.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I must thank the Policing and Crime Commissioner and the Police and Crime Panel for putting their trust in me to lead Surrey Police into its next chapter.

“I am determined to repay this trust by taking my responsibility to build on the strong foundations already in place. 

“By working together with our partners and the public, Surrey Police will rise to the crime-fighting challenges ahead and continue to earn the trust and confidence of all our communities.”

Last chance for Surrey residents to share their views in Commissioner’s council tax survey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

IT’S the last chance to have your say on how much you’d be prepared to pay to support policing teams in the county.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s survey on council tax levels for 2023/24 ends this Monday, January 16. The poll is available via smartsurvey.co.uk/s/counciltax2023/

Lisa is asking residents if they’d support a small increase of up to £1.25 a month in their council tax so policing levels can be sustained in Surrey.

Contact your Commissioner

Thousands of people have already shared their views on one of three options – an extra £15 a year on an average council tax bill, which will help Surrey Police maintain its current position and aim to improve services in the future, between £10 and £15 extra a year, which will allow the Force to keep its head above water, or less than £10, which would likely mean a reduction in service to communities.

Setting the overall budget for the Force is one of Lisa’s key responsibilities. This includes determining the level of council tax specifically raised for policing in the county, which is known as the precept.

Police forces around the country are funded by both the precept and a grant from central government.

‘Strong response’

Lisa said: “We’ve had a strong response to the survey, but it’s incredibly important to me that as many Surrey residents as possible get to have their say.

“If you haven’t yet had a chance to respond, please do – it will take just a minute or two to do.

“This year, Home Office funding is based on the expectation that Commissioners like me will increase the precept by £15 a year.

“I know how stretched households are this year, and I thought long and hard before launching my survey.

“However, the Chief Constable for Surrey has been clear that the Force needs additional funding just to maintain its position. I don’t want to risk taking a step backwards when it comes to the service our county expects and deserves.”

Chief Constable of Surrey Police Tim De Meyer

Commissioner announces preferred candidate for Chief Constable of Surrey Police

Posted on | by James Smith

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has today announced that Tim De Meyer is her preferred candidate for the role of Chief Constable of Surrey Police.

Tim is currently an Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) with Thames Valley Police and his appointment will now be subject to a confirmation hearing by Surrey’s Police and Crime Panel later this 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.

Preferred Candidate for Chief Constable Tim De Meyer
Tim De Meyer who has been selected as the Commissioner’s preferred candidate for the new Chief Constable of Surrey Police


If his appointment is confirmed, he will replace the outgoing Chief Constable Gavin Stephens who is set to depart the Force in April this year after successfully being elected as the next head of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

Tim’s suitability for the role was tested during a thorough assessment day which included questioning from some of Surrey Police’s key stakeholders and being interviewed by an appointments panel chaired by the Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Panel will meet to review the proposed appointment on Tuesday 17 January at County Hall in Woodhatch.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Selecting a Chief Constable for this great county is one of the most important responsibilities of my role as Commissioner.

“Having seen the passion, experience and professionalism Tim demonstrated during the selection process, I have every confidence he will be an outstanding leader who will guide Surrey Police into an exciting future ahead.

“I am delighted to offer the post of Chief Constable to him and I look forward to the Panel members hearing his vision for the Force at the upcoming confirmation hearing.”

ACC Tim De Meyer said: “I am honoured to be offered the position of Chief Constable of Surrey Police and very excited about the challenges ahead.

“I look forward to meeting with the Police and Crime Panel members and setting out my plans to build on the strong foundations put in place by the Force leadership over recent years, should I be confirmed in post.

“Surrey is a wonderful county and it will be a privilege to serve its residents and work with the officers, staff and volunteers who make Surrey Police an outstanding organisation.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner begins search for new Chief Constable of Surrey Police

Posted on | by James Smith | Leave a Comment on Commissioner begins search for new Chief Constable of Surrey Police

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has today begun her search for a new Chief Constable for Surrey Police.

The Commissioner has opened the recruitment process to find a successor to Gavin Stephens who announced last week he was set to leave after successfully being elected as the next head of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

He is due take up his new post in the spring of next year and will remain as Surrey’s Chief Constable until that point.

The Commissioner says she will now undertake a thorough selection process to find an outstanding candidate who can lead the Force into an exciting new chapter.

The full details of the role and how to apply can be found here.

The Commissioner has convened a selection board that will be made up of people with expertise in policing and public affairs to help with the process.

The closing date for applications is December 2 and the interview process will be held early in the New Year.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, appointing a Chief Constable is one of the most important responsibilities of my role and I am privileged to lead this process on behalf of the people of our county.

“I am determined to find an exceptional leader who will focus their talents on making Surrey Police the outstanding service that our communities expect and deserve.

“The next Chief Constable will need to deliver against the priorities set out in my Police and Crime Plan and help strengthen those relationships between our police teams and local communities.

“They will need to strike the right balance in tackling key issues such as improving our current detection rates with ensuring we provide that visible police presence we know our residents want to see. This must be achieved at a time when policing budgets need to be finely balanced during the current cost of living crisis.

“I am looking for an innovative and straight-talking leader whose passion for public service can inspire those around them to help create a police force we can all be proud of.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner vows to focus on the public’s priorities as she marks one year in office

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has vowed to continue putting the views of residents at the forefront of her plans as she this week marks a year since taking office.

The Commissioner said she has enjoyed every minute of the job so far and is looking forward to continuing to work with Surrey Police to deliver on the priorities the public have told her are the most important where they live.

Since winning the election in May last year, the Commissioner and her deputy Ellie Vesey-Thompson have been out across the county speaking to residents, joining police officers and staff on the frontline and visiting those services and projects the office commissions across the county to support victims and local communities.

In December, the Commissioner launched her Police and Crime Plan for the county which was firmly based on the priorities residents said were the most important to them such as the safety of our local roads, tackling anti-social behaviour and ensuring the safety of women and girls in our communities.

It followed the widest consultation with the public and our partners that the PCC’s office has ever undertaken and will form the basis on which the Commissioner will be holding the Chief Constable to account over the next two years.

In the last year, the Commissioner’s office has awarded over £4million to projects and services aimed at making our communities safer, reducing re-offending and supporting victims to cope and recover.

This has included securing over £2m in extra government funding which has provided more money to help tackle domestic abuse and sexual violence as well as Safer Streets funding which has helped improve safety for women and girls using the Basingstoke Canal in Woking and combat burglaries in the Tandridge area.

Major new services to tackle stalking and child criminal exploitation and a service aimed at the perpetrators of domestic abuse have also been launched.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “It has been a real privilege to serve the people of Surrey over the last year and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far.

“I know from speaking to the Surrey public that we all want to see more police officers on the streets of our county tackling those issues that matter most to our communities.

“Surrey Police have been working hard to recruit an extra 150 officers and operational staff over the last year with a further 98 to come in the year ahead as part of the government uplift programme.

“In February, I set my first budget for the Force and the small increase in council tax contributions from residents will mean Surrey Police are able to sustain their current policing levels and give the right support to those extra officers we are bringing in.

“There have been some big decisions to take during my first year not least on the future of the Surrey Police Headquarters which I have agreed with the Force will remain at the Mount Browne site in Guildford rather than the previously planned move to Leatherhead.

“I believe this is the right move for our officers and staff and will most of all provide the best value for money for the Surrey public.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been in contact over the last year and I am keen to hear from as many people as possible about their views on policing in Surrey so do please keep getting in touch.

“We are working on a number of ways to make it easier to engage with our office – I am holding monthly online surgeries; we are inviting the Surrey public to take part in my performance meetings with the Chief Constable and there are plans to host community events across the county in the near future.

“The most important part of my role is being the representative of you, the Surrey public, and I look forward to working with residents, Surrey Police and our partners across the county to ensure we provide you with the best policing service possible.”