Category: Violence against women and girls

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

logo of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey

New-look public performance meeting will focus on CCTV and violence against women and girls

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

CCTV and violence against women and girls will be on the agenda as the Police and Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend presents a new format of her Public Performance and Accountability meetings next week

As part of the Commissioner’s commitment to increasing engagement with Surrey residents, the new-look meeting will be streamed using Facebook Live from 10:30am on Monday (31 January).

You can watch the meeting live here.

The meeting is one of the key ways the Commissioner holds the Chief Constable Gavin Stephens to account on behalf of the public and she will be inviting feedback from residents on questions they would like answered on topics covered in future meetings.

The Chief Constable will give an update on the latest Public Performance Report which can be read here and will also face questions on key focus areas including the budgetary pressures facing the Surrey Police ahead of the start of a new financial year in April.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “When I took office in May I promised to keep residents’ views at the heart of my plans for Surrey.

“Monitoring the performance of Surrey Police and holding the Chief Constable accountable is central to my role, and it is important to me that members of the public can get involved in that process to help my office and the Force to deliver the best possible service together.

“I especially encourage anyone with a question or topic they’d like to know more about to get in touch. We want to hear your views and will be dedicating a new space in every meeting to address the feedback we receive.”

Haven’t got time to watch the meeting on the day? The video of the meeting will be available afterwards on the Commissioner’s online channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Nextdoor, and on our Performance page.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend at a Zonta women's rights march

Commissioner hails policing framework to respond to violence against women and girls

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The publication of a plan to improve policing’s response to violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been hailed as a big step forward by Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing has today launched a framework which sets out action required from every police force designed to make all women and girls safer.

It includes police forces working together to challenge sexism and misogyny, building women and girls’ trust and confidence in police culture, standards and approach to VAWG and strengthening a ‘call it out’ culture.

The framework also sets out plans for every police force to expand and enhance their processes for listening to women and girls and for increased action against violent men.

It can be found in full here: VAWG Framework

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I welcome the today’s timely publication of the VAWG framework which I hope represents a big step forward in how police forces address this vital issue.

“Preventing VAWG is one of the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan which launched this week and I am determined to do everything I can to make sure women and girls in Surrey can feel safe and be safe in our public and private spaces.

“Whilst policing has made strides in recent years, it is clear forces must focus on rebuilding trust and confidence within our communities following recent events.

“That can only be done by tangible action to address the concerns of women and girls and we are at a crucial juncture, so I am pleased to see the range of improvements set out in the framework today.

“As PCCs, we must have a voice and help drive change too so I’m equally pleased to see that the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners is working on its own action plan which I am fully committed to supporting when it is published next year.

“In policing, we must work with the wider criminal justice system to improve both charge and conviction rates and the experience for victims while making sure they are fully supported in their recovery. Equally we must pursue offenders and bring them to justice while supporting projects that can help challenge and change perpetrators’ behaviour.

“We owe it to every woman and girl to make sure we seize this opportunity to build on the work already in place and help shape how policing can play its part in tackling this scourge in our society.”

hands holding each other

Commissioner welcomes major step towards new Victims’ Law

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has welcomed the launch of a consultation on a brand-new law that will enhance the support for victims in England and Wales.

Plans for the first-ever Victims’ Law aim to improve engagement with victims of crime during the criminal justice process and include new requirements to hold agencies such as the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the courts to greater account. The consultation will also ask whether to increase the role of Police and Crime Commissioners as part of providing better oversight across the criminal justice system.

The Law will amplify the voices of communities and victims of crime, including a more explicit requirement for prosecutors to meet and understand the impact of a case on the victims before making charges against offenders. The burden of crime will be focused on offenders, including an increase to the amount that they are required to pay back to the community.

The Ministry of Justice also confirmed it will go further to specifically protect the victims of sexual offences and modern slavery from re-experiencing trauma, by speeding up the national roll out of pre-recorded evidence in courts.

It follows the publication of the Government’s Rape Review earlier this year, that called for better recognition of the impact of the criminal justice system on victims.

The Government has today published the first national criminal justice system and adult rape scorecards, accompanied by a report on the progress made since the Review was published. The publication of scorecards was one of the actions included in the Review, with a focus on the whole of criminal justice system working to increase the number of rape cases reaching court and to improve support for victims.

Surrey has the lowest level of recorded cases of rape per 1000 people. Surrey Police have taken the recommendations of the Review seriously, including developing a rape improvement plan and rape improvement group, new perpetrator programme and case progression clinics.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I greatly welcome the proposals outlined today to improve the support that is offered to victims. Every individual affected by a crime deserves our absolute attention across the whole system to ensure they are fully heard and included in achieving justice. It is important this includes progress towards protecting more victims from further harm as a result of the impact of criminal processes such as facing an offender in court.

“I am pleased that the measures proposed will not only make the criminal justice system work harder to achieve better outcomes, but that it will keep a core focus on increasing the penalties for those who cause harm. As Police and Crime Commissioners we play a key role in improving the policing response as well as community support for victims. I am committed to championing the rights of victims in Surrey, and embrace every opportunity for my office, Surrey Police and partners to enhance the service we provide.”

Rachel Roberts, Department Head of the Surrey Police Victim and Witness Care Unit said: “Victim participation and victim support is essential to the delivery of criminal justice. Surrey Police welcome the implementation of a Victims Law to ensure a future where victims’ rights are a key part of how we deliver overall justice and victim treatment is of utmost priority.

“This welcome piece of legislation we hope will transform victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system, ensuring that all victims have an active role in the process, have the right to be informed, supported, feel valued and able to make informed decisions. A Victims Law is an opportunity to ensure that all victim entitlements are delivered and those agencies who are responsible for doing this can be held to account.”

The Surrey Police Victim and Witness Care Unit is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide help victims of crime cope and, as far as possible, recover from their experiences.

Victims are supported to identify sources of help for their unique situation and to develop tailored care plans that last as long as they need them – from reporting a crime, through to court and beyond. Since the start of this year, the Unit has had contact with over 40,000 individuals, providing more than 900 individuals with ongoing support.

You can contact the Victim and Witness Care Unit on 01483 639949, or for more information visit: https://victimandwitnesscare.org.uk

Women's Aid Deserve to be heard campaign banner

“We owe it to survivors to provide specialist support.” – Police Commissioner joins Women’s Aid to raise awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on mental health

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has joined the Women’s Aid ‘Deserve to be Heard’ campaign calling for better mental health provision for survivors of domestic abuse.

To mark the start of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, the Commissioner has issued a joint statement with Women’s Aid and the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership, asking the Government to recognise domestic abuse as a public health priority.

The statement also calls for sustainable funding for specialist domestic abuse services for survivors.

Community services such as helplines and specialist outreach workers account for around 70% of the assistance provided to survivors and play, alongside refuges, a fundamental part in halting the cycle of abuse.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners National Lead for Mental Health and Custody, said every person needed to play a part in reducing the stigma attached to abuse and mental health.

She said: “We know that women and children who experience abuse suffer serious harm to their mental health that can include anxiety, PTSD, depression and suicidal thoughts. Raising awareness of the links between abuse and mental health sends an important message to survivors that there are people they can talk to that understand.

“We owe it to survivors of abuse to provide the right support to improve their mental health. We can and must keep pushing to ensure these services reach as many individuals as possible.”

CEO for Women’s Aid, Farah Nazeer said: “All women Deserve To Be Heard, but we know from our work with survivors that shame and stigma around domestic abuse and mental health prevent many women from speaking out. Coupled with the huge obstacles to accessing support – from long waiting times to the victim-blaming culture, which often asks women ‘what is wrong with you? Rather than, ‘what happened to you?’ – survivors are being failed.

“We must work together to ensure that domestic abuse is recognised as a key cause of women’s ill-mental health- and provide the holistic responses that survivors need to heal. This includes better understanding of trauma, greater partnership, including between mental health and domestic abuse services, and ring-fenced funding for specialist domestic abuse services led ‘by and for’ Black and minoritised women.

“Too many women are let down by the systems that are designed to help them. Through Deserve To Be Heard, we will ensure that survivors are listened to, and receive the support they need to heal and move forward.”

In 2020/21, the Office of the PCC provided more funds to address violence against women and girls than ever before, including close to close to £900,000 in funding to local organisations to provide support to survivors of domestic abuse.

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. If you feel that you or someone you know is at immediate risk please always dial 999 in an emergency.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend walking with a female police oficer

Commissioner secures government funding for project to improve safety for women and girls in Woking

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has secured nearly £175,000 in government funding to help improve safety for women and girls in the Woking area.

The ‘Safer Streets’ funding will help Surrey Police, Woking Borough Council and other local partners boost security measures along a stretch of the Basingstoke Canal after a bid was submitted earlier this year.

Since July 2019 there have been a number of incident exposures and suspicious incidents towards women and young girls in the area.

The money will go towards installing extra CCTV cameras and signage along the canal footpath, the removal of foliage and graffiti to improve visibility and the purchase of four E bikes for community and police patrols along the canal.

A designated canal neighbourhood watch has been set up by local police, named “Canal Watch” and part of the Safer Streets funding will support this initiative.

It is part of the latest round of the Home Office’s Safer Streets funding which has seen around £23.5m shared across England and Wales for projects to improve safety for women and girls in local communities.

It follows previous Safer Streets projects in Spelthorne and Tandridge where funding helped improve security and reduce anti-social behaviour in Stanwell and tackle burglary offences in Godstone and Bletchingley.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Ensuring we improve safety for women and girls in Surrey is one of my key priorities so I am delighted we have secured this crucial funding for the project in Woking.

“During my first week in office back in May, I joined the local policing team along the Basingstoke Canal to see first-hand the challenges they have in making this area safe for everyone to use.

“Sadly, there have been a number of incidents of indecent exposure which have targeted women and girls using the canal path in Woking.

“Our police teams have been working really hard with our local partners to tackle this issue. I hope this extra funding will go a long way to supporting that work and will help make a real difference to the community in that area.

“The Safer Streets Fund is an excellent initiative by the Home Office and I was particularly pleased to see this round of funding have a focus on enhancing the safety of women and girls in our neighbourhoods.

“This is a really important issue to me as your PCC and I am absolutely determined to make sure my office continues to work with Surrey Police and our partners to find ways to make our communities even safer for everyone.”

Woking Sergeant Ed Lyons said: “We are delighted that this funding has been secured to help us tackle the issues we have had with indecent exposures along the Basingstoke Canal towpath.

“We have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to ensure that the streets of Woking are safe for everyone, including working with our partner agencies by introducing a range of measures to prevent further offences from taking place, as well as carrying out numerous enquiries to identify the offender and ensure they are brought to justice.

“This funding will enhance the work we are already doing and go a long way to making our local communities a safer place to be.”

Cllr Debbie Harlow, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Women and girls, along with everyone in our community, have the right to feel safe, whether that’s on our streets, in our public spaces or recreational areas.

“I welcome the announcement of this crucial government funding that will go a long way in providing additional security measures along the Basingstoke Canal towpath, in addition to supporting the ongoing ‘Canal Watch’ initiative.”

woman hugging daughter in front of a sunrise

“Ending violence against women and girls requires everyone to work together.” – Commissioner Lisa Townsend responds to new report

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has welcomed a new report by the Government that urges ‘fundamental, cross-system change’ to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls.

The report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) included the results of an inspection of four police forces including Surrey Police, recognising the proactive approach the Force is already taking.

It calls on every police force and their partners to radically refocus their efforts, ensuring that the best possible support is provided to victims while relentlessly pursuing offenders. It is important that this forms part of a whole system approach alongside local authorities, health services and charities.

A landmark plan unveiled by the Government in July included the appointment this week of Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth as the new National Police Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls.

The scale of the problem was recognised as being so vast, that HMICFRS said they struggled to keep this section of the report updated with new findings.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Today’s report reiterates just how important it is that all agencies work as one to prevent violence against women and girls in our communities. This is an area that my office and Surrey Police are actively investing in with partners right across Surrey, including funding a brand-new service that is focused on changing perpetrators’ behaviour.

“The impact of crimes including coercive control and stalking must not be underestimated. I’m delighted that Deputy Chief Constable Blyth has been appointed this week to lead the national response and am proud that Surrey Police is already acting on many of the recommendations contained in this report.

“This is an area I’m passionate about. I will be working with Surrey Police and others to ensure we do everything we can to ensure every woman and girl in Surrey can feel safe and be safe.”

Surrey Police was praised for its response to violence against women and girls, that includes a new Force Strategy, more Sexual Offence Liaison Officers and domestic abuse case workers and a public consultation with over 5000 women and girls on community safety.

Force Lead for Violence against Women and Girls Temporary D/Superintendent Matt Barcraft-Barnes said: “Surrey Police was one of four forces put forward to be involved in the fieldwork for this inspection, giving us the opportunity to show where we have made real strides to improve.

“We have already started implementing some of the recommendations earlier this year. This includes Surrey being awarded £502,000 by the Home Office for intervention programmes for perpetrators and the new multi-agency focus on targeting the highest harm offenders. With this we aim to make Surrey an uncomfortable place for perpetrators of violence against women and girls by targeting them direct.”

In 2020/21, the Office of the PCC provided more funds to address violence against women and girls than ever before, including close to close to £900,000 in funding to local organisations to provide support to survivors of domestic abuse.

Funding from the PCC’s Office continues to provide a wide range of local services, including counselling and helplines, refuge space, dedicated services for children and professional support for individuals navigating the criminal justice system.

Read the full report by HMICFRS.

woman walking in a dark underpass

Commissioner responds to landmark strategy to end violence against women and girls

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has welcomed a new strategy unveiled by the Home Office today to tackle violence against women and girls.

It calls on police forces and partners to make reducing violence against women and girls an absolute national priority, including the creation of a new policing lead to drive change.

The Strategy highlights the need for a whole-system approach that invests further in prevention, the best possible support for victims and tough action against perpetrators.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “The launch of this strategy is a welcome reiteration by the Government of the importance of tackling violence against women and girls. This is an area that I feel really passionate about as your Commissioner, and I’m particularly pleased that it includes a recognition that we must keep the focus on offenders.

“I’ve been out meeting local organisations and Surrey Police teams that are at the forefront of the partnership to tackle all forms of sexual violence and abuse in Surrey, and that are providing care to the individuals affected. We’re working together to strengthen the response we provide across the county, including ensuring our efforts to prevent harm and support victims reach minority groups.”

In 2020/21, the Office of the PCC provided more funds to address violence against women and girls than ever before, including development of a new stalking service with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and local partners.

Funding from the PCC’s Office helps provide a wide range of local services, including counselling, dedicated services for children, a confidential helpline, and professional support for individuals navigating the criminal justice system.

The announcement of the Government’s Strategy follows a number of actions taken by Surrey Police, including a Surrey wide – consultation responded by over 5000 women and girls on community safety, and improvements to the Force’s Violence against Women and Girls Strategy.

The Force Strategy contains a new emphasis on tackling coercive and controlling behaviour, enhanced support for minority groups including the LGBTQ+ community, and a new multi-partner group focussed on male perpetrators of crimes against women and girls.

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 PCC’s office.

The publication of the Governments Strategy coincides with a new report by AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) and Agenda Alliance that highlights local authorities’ and commissioners’ important role in tackling violence against women and girls in a way that acknowledges the relationships between gender-based violence, and multiple disadvantage that includes homelessness, substance misuse and poverty.

“We owe it to victims to pursue justice relentlessly.” – PCC Lisa Townsend responds to government review into rape and sexual violence

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has welcomed the results of a wide-reaching review to achieve justice for more victims of rape and sexual assault.

Reforms unveiled by the Government today include providing greater support for victims of rape and serious sexual offences, and new monitoring of the services and agencies involved to improve outcomes.

The measures follow a review by the Ministry of Justice into the decline in the number of charges, prosecutions and convictions for rape achieved across England and Wales in the last five years.

An increased focus will be given to reduce the number of victims that withdraw from giving evidence because of delays and lack of support, and on ensuring the investigation of rape and sexual offences goes further to address the behaviour of perpetrators.

The results of the review concluded the national response to rape was ‘totally unacceptable’ – promising to return positive outcomes to 2016 levels.

PCC for Surrey Lisa Townsend said: “We must take every possible opportunity to relentlessly pursue justice for individuals affected by rape and sexual violence. These are devastating crimes that too often fall short of the response we expect and want to give to all victims.

“This is a crucial reminder that we owe it to every victim of crime to provide a sensitive, timely and consistent response to these awful crimes.

“Reducing violence against women and girls is at the heart of my commitment to Surrey residents. I’m proud that this an area where much important work is already being led by Surrey Police, our office and partners in the areas highlighted by today’s report.

“It’s so important that this is backed by tough measures that place the pressure from investigations squarely on the perpetrator.”

In 2020/21, the Office of the PCC provided more funds to address violence against women and girls than ever before.

The PCC invested heavily in services for victims of rape and sexual assault, with over £500,000 of funding made available to local support organisations.

With this money the OPCC has provided a wide range of local services, including counselling, dedicated services for children, a confidential helpline and professional support for individuals navigating the criminal justice system.

The PCC will continue to work closely with all our dedicated service providers to ensure that victims of rape and sexual assault in Surrey are properly supported.

In 2020, Surrey Police and Sussex Police established a new group with the South East Crown Prosecution Service and Kent Police to drive improvements in the outcomes of rape reports.

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 and more officers trained as Rape Investigation Specialists.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Tatton from Surrey Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team said: “We welcome the findings of this review which has highlighted several issues across the whole of the justice system. We will be looking at all the recommendations so we can improve even further but I want to reassure victims in Surrey that our team has been working to address many of these issues already.

“One example highlighted in the review are the concerns some victims have about giving up personal items such as mobile phones during the course of an investigation. This is completely understandable. In Surrey we offer replacement mobile devices as well as work with victims to set clear parameters on what will be looked at to reduce unnecessary intrusion into their private lives.

“Every victim who comes forward will be listened to, treated with respect and compassion and a thorough investigation will be launched. In April 2019, the PCC’s Office helped us to create a team of 10 victim focused investigating officers who are responsible for supporting adult victims of rape and serious sexual abuse through the investigation and subsequent criminal justice process.

“We will do everything we can to bring a case to court and if the evidence does not allow for a prosecution we will work with other agencies to support victims and take steps to protect the public from dangerous people.”

Every woman and girl has the right to feel safe

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey David Munro condemned the violence that led to the tragic death of Sarah Everard in London, saying it is important to continue to listen to the voices of women who feel unsafe.

He expressed his concern for all women who have experienced violence or unwanted attention in the past, saying meaningful action was needed to address all forms of male violence against women.

Welcoming news that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary will work with police forces to identify how to better protect women and girls, he said he was supporting Surrey Police to tackle all forms of this violence that includes stalking and domestic abuse.

A call to review the response to violence against women and girls will also be held between Police Chiefs across the country today.

The PCC said: “Sarah’s death has resonated with everyone in our community, including women and girls that have been a victim of crime and others who have expressed their feelings of anger and fear. I’ve spoken with the Chief Constable and can say that Surrey Police is committed to ensure that every woman and girl can feel safe in our communities. This includes listening closely to the concerns of residents.

“I want to reassure every woman or girl who has experienced unwanted attention or violence, or are fearful for their safety, that Surrey Police is there for you. Please report it and it will be taken with the utmost seriousness.”

A statement from Surrey Police said that women should not have to live in fear or change their behaviour to keep themselves safe, but that gatherings remained unlawful.

The PCC is continuing to work with partners including Surrey Police to prevent violence against women and girls that includes all forms of sexual violence, abuse, harassment or stalking. Support from the PCC’s Office includes for training sexual violence specialists and for victim support organisations to continue services during the pandemic.

Funding from the PCC has also paid for more Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisors in Surrey. He said the services provided by these specialists were highly valued to support women who may be living in fear of violence in Surrey.

The Office of the PCC has placed more funding towards these areas in the last 12 months than ever before, including supporting a new service to help those affected by stalking in Surrey.