Category: Victim support

room full of seated women at a wooden table discussing victim care in Surrey. Flipchart paper is visible with notes made in group work during the workshop.

Commissioner unites partners with shared commitment to victims in Surrey

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend welcomed services from across the county to the Surrey Police HQ in November, as organisations funded by her office came together to discuss improvements to the care that victims of crime receive. 
 
The event is the first time that most of the chief executives and advisors from victim services in Surrey had come together in-person since before the Covid-19 pandemic. During the day, they worked with members of the Commissioner’s office to explore the challenges and opportunities that they face when supporting individuals affected by offences including sexual violence and domestic violence, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation.

Funding local services is a key part of the Commissioner’s role in Surrey, that has made over £3m available for victim services in 2023/24. Core funding from her office pays for counselling and helplines, Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and Independent Domestic Abuse Advisors, awareness campaigns and specialist support for children and young people, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities and those affected by modern slavery. 
 
In the last year, the PCC’s team have secured additional funds from the Home Office, that have been used to set up a new ‘Steps to Change’ hub that will act as a gateway to interventions for anyone demonstrating abusive behaviours, and a landmark project of early-doors education to specifically help prevent violence against women and girls. Educating all school-age children benefits the whole of society. 
 
The workshop included representatives from Surrey Police’s dedicated Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU), Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s STARS Service, Innovating Minds, East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, the YMCA’s What is Sexual Exploitation? (WiSE) Service, Justice and Care, the county’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) and Hourglass (safer aging). 
 
Throughout the day, they spoke about the increasing complexity of victim care and the pressures on services to meet increasing demand for their support with limited resources.  

The event also included a specific focus on how the Commissioner’s Office can help – by enabling connections between different organisations, advocating at national level and continuing a shift to funding that goes beyond a typical yearly contract. 

Meg Harper from modern slavery organisation Justice and Care said short term funding made it harder to plan for the future, by risking the momentum that vital colleagues are able to build year on year. 

Daisy Anderson, CEO of RASASC, said there was also a need to amplify the message that services support people of all backgrounds and needs in Surrey. Funding from the Commissioner’s Office provided 37% of RASASCs core funding in 2022/23. 

The workshop follows the appointment of new Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove this October, and comes as a new Victims and Prisoners Bill makes it way through Parliament. 

Feedback from the meeting is now being analysed and will feed into plans for ensuring local organisations receive the best possible support in the new financial year.  

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “My office funds a wide range of work by victim services in Surrey, that often work in an incredibly complicated and pressured environment to provide the best possible care to survivors. 
 
“I am really proud of the strong partnership with the organisations we support in Surrey, but it is important that we continue to listen and identify the challenges they face. The workshop provided a forum for frank conversations across different areas of care and shared a huge wealth of knowledge with a focus on long-term solutions. 

“These conversations are vital as they make a tangible difference when an individual experiences a crime. Such as knowing who they can turn to, less time waiting and support from specialists that are part of a network that looks out for them too.” 
 
A list of support services available to victims in Surrey is available here.

Anyone affected by a crime can contact Surrey’s dedicated Victim and Witness Care Unit on 01483 639949 or visit https://victimandwitnesscare.org.uk for more information. Support and advice is available to every victim of a crime in Surrey regardless of when the offence occurred.

For further information about ‘Steps to Change’ or to discuss making a referral, please contact: enquiries@surreystepstochange.com

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Warning over government alarm that could expose ‘lifeline’ phones hidden by abuse survivors

Posted on | by Alex Winter

COMMISSIONER Lisa Townsend is raising awareness of a Government alarm that could expose “lifeline” secret phones hidden by survivors of domestic violence.

The Emergency Alert System test, which will take place at 3pm this Sunday, April 23, will cause mobile devices to emit a siren-like sound for around ten seconds, even if the phone is set to silent.

Modelled on similar schemes used in the US, Canada, Japan and The Netherlands, emergency alerts will warn Brits of life-threatening situations like flooding or wildfires.

Services established to support abuse survivors both nationally and in Surrey have warned that perpetrators of violence could discover hidden phones when the alarm sounds.

There are also concerns that fraudsters will use the test to scam vulnerable people.

Lisa has sent a letter to the Government asking for victims of abuse to be issued with clear instructions on how to change the settings on their phone to prevent the alert from sounding.

The Cabinet Office has confirmed it is working with charities including Refuge to show those affected by violence how to disable the alarm.

Lisa said: “My office and Surrey Police stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Government’s aim of reducing violence against women and girls.

“I am encouraged by the progress to shine a light on perpetrators use of coercive and controlling behaviour, as well as the harm and isolation this causes and the ever-present danger adult and child victims are surviving day-to-day.

“This constant threat and fear of fatal abuse is why many victims may purposefully keep a secret phone as a vital lifeline.

“Other vulnerable groups may also be affected during this test. I am particularly concerned the fraudsters may use this event as an opportunity to target victims, as we saw during the pandemic.

“Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK, costing our economy billions of pounds each year, and its impact on those affected can be devastating, both psychologically and financially. As a result, I would also ask the Government to issue fraud prevention advice via its official channels.”

In a statement released this week, the Cabinet Office said: “We understand the concerns from women’s charities about victims of domestic abuse.

“That is why we have worked with groups like Refuge to get the message out about how to disable this alert on hidden mobile devices.”

How to disable the alert

While it is recommended that the alerts should be kept on if at all possible, those with a secret device can opt out via their phone’s settings.

On iOS devices, enter the ‘notifications’ tab and switch off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

Those with an android device should search for ‘emergency alert’ before using the toggle to switch it off.

The emergency siren will not be received if a phone is in aeroplane mode. Older smartphones which cannot access either 4G or 5G will also not get the notification.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend outside the Surrey Police contact centre

Commissioner blasts criminals behind ‘heart-breaking’ romance scams as she urges victims to come forward

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has urged residents to be wary of romance fraudsters this Valentine’s Day.

Lisa Townsend blasted the criminals behind “heart-breaking” scams, and warned that Surrey victims lose millions each year to fraud.

And she called for anyone who fears they may be affected to come forward and speak to Surrey Police.


Lisa said: “Romance fraud is a deeply personal and intrusive crime. The impact it has on its victims is heart-breaking.

“Scammers con their victims into investing time and money under the mistaken belief that they have a genuine personal connection.

“In many cases, it’s difficult for victims to end their ‘relationship’ as they’re so emotionally invested.

“This type of crime can leave people feeling extremely ashamed and embarrassed.

“To anyone who is suffering, please know they’re not alone. Criminals are clever and manipulative, and it is never the fault of someone who has been scammed.

“Surrey Police will always take reports of romance fraud incredibly seriously. I’d urge anyone affected to come forward.”

In total, 172 reports of romance fraud were made to Surrey Police in 2022. Just under 57 per cent of victims were female.

More than half of all victims live alone, and just over one in five were contacted initially via WhatsApp. Around 19 per cent were contacted through a dating app first.

The majority of victims – 47.67 per cent – were aged between 30 and 59. Around 30 per cent were aged between 60 and 74.

‘Never a victim’s fault’

While many people – 27.9 per cent of all victims – didn’t report any losses, 72.1 per cent were defrauded out of sums of money. Of that number, 2.9 per cent lost between £100,000 and £240,000, and one person lost more than £250,000.

In 35.1 per cent of all cases, criminals asked their victims to hand over money via a bank transfer.

Surrey Police has offered the following advice on spotting the signs of a romance fraudster:

  • Be wary of giving out personal information on a website or chatroom
  • Fraudsters will make conversations personal to get information out of you, but won’t tell you much about themselves that you could check or verify
  • Romance fraudsters often claim to have high-ranking roles that keep them away from home for a long time. This could be a ploy to allay suspicions about not meeting in person
  • Fraudsters will usually attempt to steer you away from chatting on legitimate dating sites that can be monitored
  • They may tell stories to target your emotions – for example, that they have an ill relative or are stranded abroad. They may not ask directly for money, instead hoping that you will offer from the goodness of your heart
  • Sometimes, the fraudster will send you valuable items like laptops and mobile phones before asking you to send them on. This is likely a way for them to cover up any criminal activity
  • They may also ask you to accept money into your bank account and then transfer it elsewhere or via MoneyGram, Western Union, iTunes vouchers or other gift cards. These scenarios are very likely to be forms of money laundering, meaning you would be committing a crime

For more information, visit surrey.police.uk/romancefraud

To contact Surrey Police, call 101, use the Surrey Police website or get in touch on the Force’s social media pages. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Surrey Against Domestic Abuse logo and advert for Surrey Domestic Homicide Review Seminars

Commissioner unites partners to highlight role of abuse in homicide

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend welcomed 390 participants to a sobering webinar on domestic abuse, homicide and victim support at the start of this month, as the United Nation’s 16 days of activism focused on violence against women and girls came to an end.

The webinar hosted by the Surrey against Domestic Abuse Partnership included talks from experts Prof Jane Monckton-Smith of the University of Gloucestershire who spoke about the ways that all agencies can recognise the links between domestic abuse, suicide and homicide, in order to improve the support provided to survivors of abuse and their families before harm escalates. Participants also heard from Dr Emma Katz of Liverpool Hope University whose ground-breaking work highlights the impact of perpetrators’ coercive and controlling behaviour on mothers and children.

Most importantly, they heard from a bereaved family who powerfully and painfully shared with participants the importance of embedding the work of Prof Monckton-Smith and Dr Katz into everyday practice in order to prevent more women from being killed and harmed. They challenged us to stop asking survivors why they don’t leave and focus on the importance of challenging victim blaming and holding perpetrators to account.

It featured an introduction from the Commissioner who has made reducing violence against women and girls a key priority for policing. The Commissioner’s office works closely with the partnership to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence in Surrey, including awarding over £1m to local services and projects that helped survivors in the last year.


The seminar is part of a series of events led by the Commissioner’s office alongside the partnership, focused on strengthening Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) that are carried out to identify learning to prevent new homicides or suicides in Surrey.

It complements the embedding of a new process for Reviews in Surrey, with the aim that every organisation understands the role they play and the recommendations on topics including controlling and coercive behaviour, the camouflaging of abuse, abuse against older people and how the perpetrators of abuse may use children as a way of targeting the parenting bond.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said it was essential to raise awareness of the worrying link between the trauma resulting from abuse and the very real risk that it can lead to a fatality: “Reducing violence against women and girls is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan for Surrey, both by increasing the support available to survivors of abuse, but also by playing a key role in ensuring that we actively promote learning to prevent harm with our partners and in our communities.

“That’s why I am really pleased that the webinar was so well attended. It contained expert information that will have a direct impact on the ways in which professionals across the county can work with survivors of abuse to identify support earlier, ensuring there is a strong focus on children too.

“We know that abuse often follows a pattern and that it can be fatal if the behaviour of the perpetrator is not challenged. I want to thank all those involved in raising awareness of this issue, including a special recognition of the family member who so bravely shared their experiences to help raise awareness of this link.”

Professionals have a responsibility to call out victim blaming as the one of the most fatal flaws in our responses to perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Michelle Blunsom MBE, CEO of East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services and Chair of the Partnership in Surrey, said: “In 20 years I don’t think I have ever met a survivor of domestic abuse who has not been victim blamed. What this tells us is that we are collectively failing survivors and, even worse, trampling on the memory of those who did not survive.

“If we remain unconscious to, engage in and collude with victim blaming we make dangerous perpetrators even more invisible. Victim blaming means that their actions come secondary to what the victim or survivor should or shouldn’t have done. We exonerate perpetrators of the responsibility for abuse and for death by placing it firmly in the hands of victims themselves – we ask them why didn’t they disclose the abuse, why they didn’t they tell us sooner, why didn’t they leave, why didn’t they protect the children, why did they retaliate, why, why, why?

“Those who hold power, and by that, I mean most professionals regardless of rank or position, have a responsibility to not just acknowledge victim blaming but to call it out as the one of the most fatal flaws in our responses to perpetrators of domestic abuse. If we allow it to continue, we give the green light to current and future perpetrators; that there will be a ready-made set of excuses sitting on the shelf for them to use when they commit abuse and even murder.

“We have a choice to decide who we want to be as a person and as a professional. I compel everyone to consider how they want to contribute to ending perpetrators’ power and raising victims’ status.”

Anyone concerned about themselves or someone they know can access confidential advice and support from Surrey’s specialist domestic abuse services by contacting the Your Sanctuary helpline on 01483 776822 9am-9pm every day, or by visiting the Healthy Surrey website for a list of other support services.

Contact Surrey Police by calling 101, visiting https://surrey.police.uk or using the chat function on Surrey Police social media pages. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Community Safety Assembly

Services commit to joined up response at first Community Safety Assembly in Surrey

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The first Community Safety Assembly in the county was held this May as Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend united partner organisations with a shared commitment to work more closely together.

The event launched the new Community Safety Agreement between partners that include Surrey Police, local authorities, health and victim support services across Surrey. The Agreement outlines how partners will work together to improve community safety, by enhancing the support for individuals affected or at risk of harm, reducing inequalities and strengthening collaboration between different agencies.

The Assembly organised by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey welcomed representatives from over 30 organisations to the Dorking Halls, where they discussed how to improve the joint response to community issues including antisocial behaviour, mental ill-health, and criminal exploitation. The meeting was also the first time that representatives from each of the organisations had met in person since the start of the pandemic.

Group work on a variety of topics was accompanied by presentations from Surrey Police and Surrey County Council, including the Force’s focus on reducing violence against women and embedding a problem-solving approach to preventing crime across the service.

Throughout the day, members were asked to consider the bigger picture of so-called ‘low level crime’, learn to spot the signs of hidden harm and discuss potential solutions to challenges including barriers to sharing information and building public trust.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Lisa Townsend, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s national lead for Mental Health and Custody, said: “Every organisation has a role play in reducing vulnerabilities that can lead to harm in our communities.

“That’s why I’m proud that the Community Safety Assembly held for the first time by my office has brought such a wide spectrum of partners under one roof to discuss how we can all take steps to deliver a more joined-up response within the new Community Safety Agreement for Surrey.

“We heard from partners about what we can learn from the amazing work that is already happening across our county, but also had really open conversations about what doesn’t work so well and how we can improve.

“It is important that we spot the signs of harm earlier and address gaps between agencies that can prevent individuals from accessing the right support. For example, we know that mental ill-health has a significant impact on policing and this is one of the areas that I am already discussing with our health partners to ensure the response is coordinated so that individuals receive the best possible care.

“The Assembly was just the start of these conversations, that form part of our ongoing commitment to together improve safety right across our communities.”

Find out more about the Community Safety Partnership in Surrey and read the Community Safety Agreement here.

You can see our dedicated page for updates following the Community Safety Assembly here.

We play an essential role in enhancing support – Commissioner Lisa Townsend speaks at national conference on criminal justice

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has called for more to be done to support women and girls who experience gender-based violence during a panel discussion at this year’s Modernising Criminal Justice conference.

The discussion chaired by Reader in Criminal Law at King’s College Dr Hannah Quirk coincided with domestic abuse awareness week in Surrey and included questions on the progress made since the launch of the Government’s ‘Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Strategy’ in 2021 and how Safer Streets funding provided by Police and Crime Commissioners is making a difference to the lives of women and girls locally.

The conference at the QEII Centre in London featured speakers from across the criminal justice sector, including the Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service, fellow Police and Crime Commissioners and the Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird.

Reducing violence against women and girls, including victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, is a key priority in Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan for Surrey.

Speaking alongside the Chief Executive of AVA (Against Violence and Abuse), Donna Covey CBE, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend welcomed a significant increase in funding from the Government in the last two years to tackle the violence women experience every day, adding Commissioners played an essential role in ensuring services on the ground are able to provide the best possible support and care to those who need it.

She said more work was needed to ensure that justice was achieved for victims, requiring the whole criminal justice system to work together to hear survivors’ voices and do more to recognise the impact of trauma on individuals and their families: “I’m pleased to take part in this national conference with a really important aim of collaborating across the criminal justice sector to prevent offending and reduce harm in our communities.

“I’m passionate about reducing violence against women and girls and this is a key area in which I am dedicating my full attention to as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

“It is essential in our efforts to drive change that we continue to act on what survivors are telling us needs to be different. I am really proud of the enormous amount of work being led by my team, Surrey Police and with our partners, which includes early intervention to address behaviours that lead to violence, and ensuring there is specialist support that recognises the deep and lasting impact all forms of violence against women and girls can have on the mental health of both adult and child survivors.

“Recent developments including the Domestic Abuse Act offer new opportunities to strengthen this response and we are grasping these with both hands.”

In 2021/22, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner provided more support to individuals affected by sexual violence, rape, stalking and domestic abuse than ever before, with £1.3m in funding provided to local organisations to support the survivors of domestic abuse and a new Safer Streets project aimed at improving the safety of women and girls in Woking. A dedicated service to challenge the behaviour of both stalking and domestic abuse perpetrators across Surrey was also launched and is the first of its kind to be launched in the UK.

The Commissioner’s office continues to play a key role in significantly increasing the number of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors in Surrey, who provide direct advice and guidance in the community to help victims rebuild trust, access support and navigate the criminal justice system.

Confidential advice and support is available from Surrey’s independent specialist domestic abuse services by contacting the Your Sanctuary helpline 01483 776822 (9am-9pm every day) or by visiting the Healthy Surrey website.

To report a crime or seek advice please call Surrey Police via 101, online or using social media. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

More support for young people as Commissioner sets funding for year ahead

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Close to half of Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s Community Safety Fund will be used to protect children and young people from harm as she sets her office’s budget for the first time.

The Commissioner has ringfenced £275,000 of the Fund to enable more children and young people to engage with the police and other agencies, avoid or leave harmful situations and receive specialist help and advice when they need it. It complements additional funding that will continue to be provided by the Commissioner to support victims of crime and reduce repeat offending in Surrey.

The specific allocation of a Children and Young People’s Fund follows a £100,000 project with Catch22 to reduce the criminal exploitation of young people established in January, accompanied by longer term investments by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to increase the support available to children and young people at risk of, or affected by, sexual violence.

It comes after the Commissioner marked the anniversary of her first year in office in May with a vow to remain focused on the public’s priorities that are included in her Police and Crime Plan for Surrey. They include reducing violence against women and girls, ensuring safer Surrey roads and improving the relationships between Surrey residents and Surrey Police.

Money from the new Children and Young People’s Fund has already been awarded to support the first Surrey Police ‘Kick about in the Community’ football event that aimed to break down the barriers between Surrey Police officers and young people in the county. The event in Woking was held as part of the Force’s focus on children and young people and was supported and attended by representatives from Chelsea Football Club, local youth services and partners including Fearless, Catch 22 and MIND charity.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who is leading the Office’s focus on children and young people, said: “I’m passionate about ensuring our impact in Surrey includes hearing the voices of children and young people, who have a unique experience of safety and policing in our communities.

“Together with the Commissioner, I’m proud that allocating this specific funding will help more local organisations to enhance the opportunities for young people to thrive, and to access tailored support that works to address the barriers we know prevent young people from speaking up or asking for help.

“It could be something as simple as having a safe place to go to spend their free time. Or it could be having someone they trust who can spot the signs and offer advice when something doesn’t feel right.

“Ensuring these services can reach more young people is important both to support individuals who are at risk or who experience harm, but also to strengthen the long-term impact on their future decisions, and on their relationships with the people and environments around them as they grow up.”

The Children and Young people’s Fund is available to organisations that work to enhance the lives of children and young people in Surrey. It is open to local activities and groups that have a positive impact on children and young people’s wellbeing, provide a safe space or route away from potential harm or that encourage increased engagement between the police and other agencies that prevent crime, reduce vulnerability and invest in health. Interested organisations can find out more and apply via the Commissioner’s dedicated ‘Funding Hub’ pages at https://www.funding.surrey-pcc.gov.uk

Anyone who is concerned about a young person or child is encouraged to contact the Surrey Children’s Single Point of Access on 0300 470 9100 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) or at cspa@surreycc.gov.uk. The service is available out of hours on 01483 517898.

You can contact Surrey Police by calling 101, via Surrey Police social media pages or at www.surrey.police.uk. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Commissioner welcomes new law that will help close the net on domestic abusers

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has welcomed a new law that makes non-fatal strangulation a stand-alone offence that could see domestic abusers jailed for five years.

The law came into effect this week, as part of the new Domestic Abuse Act which was introduced in April.

The shockingly violent act is often reported by survivors of domestic abuse as a method used by the abuser to frighten and exert power over them, resulting in an intense sense of fear and vulnerability.

Research shows that the behaviour of abusers who commit this type of assault is significantly more likely to escalate and lead to fatal attacks later on.

But it has been historically difficult to secure prosecutions at an appropriate level, as it often results in few, or no marks left behind. The new law means it will be treated as a serious offence that can be reported at any time and be taken to Crown Court.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I am really pleased to see this devastating behaviour recognised in a stand-alone offence that acknowledges the serious nature of the harm caused by the perpetrators of domestic abuse.

“The new law strengthens the policing response against abusers and recognises it as serious offence that has a lasting traumatic impact on survivors both physically and mentally. Many survivors who have experienced this horrific act as part of a pattern of abuse helped to inform the new law. Now we must do everything in our power to ensure the victim’s voice is heard throughout the Criminal Justice system when charges are being considered.”

Reducing violence against women and girls, including victims of domestic abuse, is a key priority in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan for Surrey.

In 2021/22, the Commissioner’s office provided over £1.3m in funding to support local organisations to provide support to survivors of domestic abuse, with a further £500,000 provided to challenge the behaviour of perpetrators in Surrey.

Surrey Police’s Lead for Violence against Women and Girls Temporary D/Superintendent Matt Barcraft-Barnes said: “We welcome this change in law which allows us to close a gap that existed before where perpetrators were able to evade prosecution. Our teams will be able to use this legislation to focus on robustly pursuing and prosecuting perpetrators of abuse and increasing access to justice for survivors.”

Anyone concerned about themselves or someone they know can access confidential advice and support from Surrey’ independent specialist domestic abuse services by contacting the Your Sanctuary helpline 01483 776822 9am-9pm every day, or by visiting the Healthy Surrey website.

To report a crime or seek advice please call Surrey Police via 101, online or using social media. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Commissioner backs campaign to encourage stalking victims to come forward

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has today given her backing to a campaign aimed at encouraging more victims of stalking to report offences to police.

To mark National Stalking Awareness Week (April 25-29), the Commissioner has joined other PCCs from across the country in committing to help increase reporting in their areas so those targeted can access the right support.

The week is run annually by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to raise awareness of the devastating effect of stalking, focusing on different issues related to the crime.

This year’s theme is ‘Bridging the Gap’ which aims to highlight the crucial role that Independent Stalking Advocates play in helping support victims through the criminal justice system.
Stalking Advocates are trained specialists who provide victims with expert advice and support during times of crisis.

In Surrey, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office has provided funding for two Stalking Advocates and their associated training. One post is embedded in East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service to support victims of intimate stalking, and the other is being embedded within Surrey Police’s Victim and Witness Care Unit.

Funding has also been provided for three stalking advocacy training workshops delivered by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to wider staff. The PCC’s office has also secured additional money from the Home Office to deliver stalking perpetrator interventions designed to address and de-escalate offending behaviour.

PCC Lisa Townsend said: “Stalking is a dangerous and frightening crime that can leave victims feeling helpless, terrified and isolated.

“It can take many forms, all of which can have a devastating impact on those who are targeted. Sadly, if the offending goes unchecked, it can lead to the most serious of consequences.

“We have to make sure that those who are the victims of stalking are not only encouraged to come forward and report it to the police but are also offered the right specialist support.

“That is why I am joining other PCCs across the country in actively encouraging an increase in reports of stalking in their areas so that victims can access that support and offender’s behaviour can be addressed before it is too late.

“I am committed to ensuring my office are doing their part to help victims in Surrey. Over the last year we have provided funding for two Stalking Advocates in the county who we know can provide life-changing services to victims.

“We are also working with perpetrators to change their behaviour so we can continue to tackle this type of offending and protect those vulnerable people targeted by this sort of criminality.”

To learn more about Stalking Awareness Week and the work the Suzy Lamplugh Trust are doing to tackle stalking visit: suzylamplugh.org/national-stalking-awareness-week-2022-bridging-the-gap

#BridgingTheGap #NSAW2022

Commissioner’s office extends funds to help young people affected by sexual violence

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Nearly half a million pounds in fresh funding to support children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation has been pledged by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey for the next three years.

Grants from the Commissioner’s Victims’ Fund will enable two Surrey organisations to continue vital support for young people to cope and recover from their experiences, and to provide specialist education and advice to guide potential victims away from harmful relationships.

YMCA DownsLink group’s WiSE project will receive a further £240,000 from the Commissioner’s Office between 2022-24 that will fund two specialist workers to provide one-to-one emotional and practical support to up to 40 individuals at risk of or affected by sexual exploitation.

Working closely with other agencies, the service will help extend the age range for those accessing support in Surrey, providing independent support to individuals aged up to 25 years.

Funding is also being provided to Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to sustain the employment of two Independent Child and Young Persons Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (CISVAs) who work closely with children and young people who are affected by sexual violence, including rape.

Working hand in hand with Surrey’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) – they will provide practical support in the immediate aftermath of a crime, help individuals to navigate the criminal justice system and work with agencies to ensure that survivors’ needs are prioritised.

CISVAs play an important role in supporting the mental health of young people affected by crimes such as rape, helping victims to learn coping strategies and manage conditions such as self-harm and depression in order to rebuild their lives.

Funding for both services forms part of the Commissioner’s commitment to prevent harm in Surrey’s communities. This includes reducing violence against women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by sexual offences.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, the Commissioner provided more than £476,000 to organisations supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault. By committing to longer term support for both organisations in 2022, the Commissioner hopes to reduce the vulnerabilities that community services often face due to funding that is short term.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who is leading the Office’s focus on children and young people, said: “We are really pleased to extend this important funding as part of our ongoing work with partners right across the county to prevent exploitation and support the survivors of sexual violence. Protecting people from harm is an important part of our Police and Crime Plan for Surrey and tackling exploitation and sexual violence are some of the key factors to achieving that.

“Both the Commissioner and I are passionate about ensuring the safety and happiness of children and young people across our county.

Whilst it is important to recognise that the vast majority of children and young people in Surrey will grow up happy and healthy, those who are affected by harmful relationships deserve the specialist support that organisations like YMCA DownsLink Group and individuals like CISVAs can provide.”

Rachael Toner, Head of YMCA DownsLink Group’s Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services & Targeted Services, said: “The grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office enables this vital support for the most vulnerable young people in Surrey to continue at a time when the impact of male violence toward women and girls is being more widely recognised and better understood, and investing in essential support services has never been more needed.

“YMCA WiSE works with under 26-year-olds and creates a safe, non-judgemental space where young people feel listened to and accepted, can start to understand the exploitation they have experienced, start to heal and begin to get their lives back.”

Surrey has the second lowest level of recorded cases of rape per 1000 people. In the year ending December 2021, Surrey Police saw an increase of 20% in reported cases of serious sexual offences compared to the same period in 2020 (324 more cases). This compares to a rise of over 12% of all sexual offences reported to police forces in the year to September 2021.

As part of the Force’s Rape & Serious Sexual Offence Improvement Strategy 2021/22, Surrey Police maintain a dedicated Rape and Serious Offence Investigation Team, supported by a new team of Sexual Offence Liaison Officers established in partnership with the Commissioner’s office.

Anyone who is concerned about a young person or child is encouraged to contact the Surrey Children’s Single Point of Access on 0300 470 9100 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) or at cspa@surreycc.gov.uk. The service is also available out of hours on 01483 517898.

If you have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused and don’t know where to turn, you can find your nearest SARC at www.nhs.uk/SARCs

You can contact Surrey Police using 101, on Surrey Police social media pages or at www.surrey.police.uk. Always dial 999 in an emergency.