Working with communities to feel safe Archives - Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Surrey

The image shows a dark room filled with computers and desks. Across the length of one wall is a bank of television screens, many of which show CCTV images. In the far left corner is a mugshot of a bearded man with dark hair, who looks directly into the camera.

Brazen shoplifter highlighted to Commissioner on visit to Boots CCTV hub is jailed

Posted on 5th September 2025 | by Alex Winter

A shoplifter who brazenly stole goods worth more than £34,000 in a six-week spree has been jailed after he was caught trying to flee the country.

Wesley Maughan, 25, was one of the cases brought to Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend’s attention during a visit to the Boots CCTV Monitoring Centre over the summer.

Lisa met with security staff at the hub in Nottinghamshire after their work with Surrey Police led to the arrest and charge of 22-year-old Ashford man John Ward.

Ward, who stole items worth £60,000 from Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-op stores was jailed for two years in April.

The hub has now worked with the Force once again to secure a conviction for Maughan, of Slough.

Shoplifters sentenced

Maughan, who admitted 13 counts of theft from a shop, raided Boots, Tesco and Co-op stores across Surrey, London, Buckinghamshire and Kent. He targeted nicotine, healthcare and cosmetics products.

CCTV captured him entering a Boots store before filling bags with goods, concealing items in his coat, and leaving without paying.

He was arrested at Harwich International Port in May after trying to flee the country under a false identity, and has this week been sentenced to 22 months in prison at Aylesbury Crown Court.

The Commissioner said: “The sentences received by Maughan and Ward should serve as a timely reminder to those who target our business communities.

“Surrey Police will not tolerate retail crime, and our officers will bring offenders to justice.

“We will not tolerate it”

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in these cases for their fantastic work.”

Retail crime is a key priority for both the Commissioner and senior leaders at Surrey Police.

In the past year, there have been 800 additional shoplifting charges, and the arrest rate for these crimes has more than doubled.

Investigating officer PC Annalise Ware said: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime.

“It can have a devastating impact on businesses and their communities. Staff can be left feeling vulnerable and powerless and customers are also often affected.

Force priority

“It is a priority for us to tackle retail crime head on, relentlessly pursuing those who steal from shops and getting them in front of the courts.

“Crucial to this is shoplifting being reported – irrespective of value – as it helps us build an intelligence picture of who the offenders are and the trends in their behaviour.

“In this case, working in partnership with retailers helped us to quickly identify Maughan as a suspect, charge and sentence him for multiple offences.

“I hope this outcome reassures our communities that we are committed to tackling shoplifting and serves as a reminder that we are working daily to drive retail crime out of Surrey.”

Two women sit beside each other. They are both wearing headsets and looking at a computer. The woman on the right, Commissioner Lisa Townsend, wears a yellow top. She is gazing intently at the computer screen. The woman on the right, who is in Surrey Police uniform and wears glasses, also looks at the screen. The image was taken at the Surrey Police contact centre in Guildford.

Commissioner raises awareness over government alert that could expose “lifeline” secret phones

Posted on 29th August 2025 | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner is raising awareness of a government emergency alert that will sound on phones around the country in September.

The Emergency Alert System test, which will take place at 3pm on Sunday, September 7, will cause mobile devices to emit a siren-like sound for around ten seconds, even if the phone is set to silent.

Lisa Townsend warned it could expose “lifeline” secret phones hidden by survivors of domestic violence.

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.

Commissioner’s warning

Lisa said: “Preventing violence against women and girls is a key priority, for myself and for Surrey Police.

“Across the county, there will be those who live in constant fear of harm.

“That is why many victims may purposefully keep a secret phone as a vital lifeline.

“Today, I’m sharing the Government’s advice on how to disable these alerts if needed, and I urge any abuse survivors with a hidden phone to follow the instructions below.”

How to turn off the alert

iPhones and Android phones

To opt out:

Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.

Other mobile phones and tablets

Depending on the manufacturer and software version of your phone, emergency alerts settings may be called different names, such as ‘wireless emergency alerts’ or ‘emergency broadcasts’.

The settings can usually be found in one of the following ways. Go to:

‘message’, then ‘message settings, then ‘wireless emergency alerts’, then ‘alert’
‘settings’, then ‘sounds’, then ‘advanced’, then ‘emergency broadcasts’
‘settings’, then ‘general settings’, then ‘emergency alerts’

Then turn off ‘severe alerts’, ‘extreme alerts’ and ‘test alerts’.

Two people stand and look at computer screens. One, a blonde woman in a green dress, is Commissioner Lisa Townsend. She stands next to a man in a suit, who wears a lanyard around his neck. A man is sitting at the computer with his back to the camera. In front of all three people pictured is a wall covered with screens, each of which shows CCTV images.

Inside the Boots nerve centre where operators track Surrey’s shoplifters in real time

Posted on 22nd August 2025 | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has visited a high-tech nerve centre which tackles retail crime at Boots branches across the country.

Lisa Townsend travelled to Beeston in Nottinghamshire to see the work of the chain’s CCTV Monitoring Centre.

The hub receives hundreds of alerts a day from its shops in the UK. Staff can press alarms for central support and live monitoring if they have suspicions about a customer.

Earlier this year, 22-year-old John Ward, of Ashford, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting shoplifting items worth more than £60,000.

Shoplifter jailed

Goods were stolen from Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Co-op stores in Surrey, Thames Valley, Kent, London, Cleveland, Cheshire and Durham.

Surrey Police arrested Ward after the Boots intelligence hub reported 19 connected incidents to the Force.

The facility features 18 huge screens displaying live CCTV feeds. A team of security specialists respond in real time, either taking over a store’s loudspeakers to deter shoplifters, or warning the suspect that they’re being watched.

Where a suspect is identified, the local police force is notified.

In Surrey, 30 of the 36 Boots stores have reported an incident into Auror, a crime reporting network which connects retailers and local police forces, over the past 18 months. The top stores to report are in Walton-on-Thames and Farnham.

CCTV hub

In 2023, Boots contributed £800,000 towards Operation Pegasus, a national police operation which uses CCTV and facial recognition technology to target criminals.

Retail crime is a key priority for both the Commissioner and senior leaders at Surrey Police.

In the past year, there have been 800 additional shoplifting charges, and the arrest rate for these crimes has more than doubled.

Lisa said: “Retail crime harms communities in Surrey and across the UK.

“Tackling it head on”

“It is not a victimless crime. Instead, it leads to fear and loss across huge swathes of our society, from business owners to employees and customers.

“The Force is committed to tackling retail crime head on, and to do that, they need reports.

“The tireless work of staff at Boots CCTV Monitoring Centre is helping our officers to secure convictions and drive offenders out of our high streets.

“I commend Boots for its investment to protect staff and customers.”

The image shows the inside of a dark room. The focus is a large wall along the back of the room, which is covered with television screens that show CCTV images. People are working at desks in front of the screens, and their computers also show CCTV images.

The hub shows live CCTV images from Boots stores across the UK

The image shows PCSO Becca Bullock, Woking MP Will Forster, Dame Diana Johnson, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, and Woking Borough Commander Inspector Ed Lyons standing in Woking town centre. Everyone is looking forwards and smiling in the posed shot.

Six days without a report of crime: How police are ‘problem-solving’ offending in Woking town centre

Posted on 15th August 2025 | by Alex Winter

Not a single crime was reported in Woking town centre for six days in a row this summer as police use data to ‘problem-solve’ offending.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said the Force is turning the tide on criminals with “back-to-basics” policing – a key priority in her Police and Crime Plan.

The Commissioner joined Woking’s Borough Commander Inspector Ed Lyons, Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson, and Woking MP Will Forster for a summit in the town this week.

During the meeting, Inspector Lyons said partnership working between Surrey Police, Woking Borough Council, local retailers and The Peacocks Centre is having a dramatic effect.

One initiative has seen PCSOs and officers hosting regular Meet the Beat sessions at eight local retailers across Woking, as well as making routine visits to chat with staff and customers. Across these eight stores, retail crime has dropped by a total of 60 per cent.

Crime drops in Woking

The Force is also using an empty retail space in the Victoria Place Shopping Centre to host a Cop Shop Stop for residents and visitors to attend, as well as meetings with partners.

This work forms part of Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer, a wide-ranging programme of events across 11 town centres in the county. The initiative targets crime types that typically increase during the summer months, including anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, retail crime, and violent offending.

Lisa said: “I’d like to thank Dame Diana for joining the team in Woking for this fantastic event.

“Police in the town used data and intelligence to pinpoint the areas where criminality was proportionately more common. Their aim is not just to respond to offending, but to stop it taking place altogether.

“Recently, there were six consecutive days where no crimes were reported in the town centre, with another 48 hours of no reports shortly after that. However, we urge anyone who needs to contact their police to do so, either on 101 or by calling 999 in an emergency.

“Back to basics”

“This problem-solving work is back-to-basics policing at its finest, which is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan.

“By working with businesses and the borough council, the team are making a huge difference to one of Surrey’s most vibrant and busy town centres.”

Insp Lyons told Dame Diana: “We want to make sure people in Woking are aware that this is their town, and they have a right to feel safe and secure.

“We are using intelligence-led policing backed by data to determine crime patterns, and then deploying high-visibility patrols and enhanced CCTV use.

“This hard work can be seen across the county having obtained over 1,200 shoplifting charges, a 32.3% increase on the previous year, and increased arrest rates by 12.1%.

“We are also working closely with our partners to ensure this work can last.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, a blonde woman, stands against a five bar gate. She wears a Barbour jacket in green, jeans, and Hunter wellington boots. Behind her are sheep.

“Your reports matter”: Deputy Commissioner launches Rural Crime Forum with Surrey Police

Posted on 14th August 2025 | by Alex Winter

THOSE who live and work in the Surrey countryside are invited to share their concerns on rural and wildlife crime at a new forum next month.

The first Rural Crime Forum, hosted by Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson and Surrey Police leads, will take place in Busbridge, Godalming on Monday, September 15.

During the evening, members of the public will have the opportunity to talk to the team about the issues that most concern them.

Ellie, who is on the board of the National Rural Crime Network, holds the rural crime remit for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Rural crime forum launches

She has recently written to the Home Secretary to call for legislation around catapult ownership and use to be tightened so police are able to take effective action.

Earlier this summer, Ellie also raised awareness of the dangers of livestock worrying by dogs, a key concern for farmers in Surrey, and she has previously warned of the links between organised criminality and thefts from farms.

She said: “Rural crime is not always well-understood, but it can have a grave impact on wider society.

“I often visit rural communities through my work, and I am aware that theft, anti-social behaviour, trespass, fly-tipping and livestock worrying are among the most serious concerns.

Have your say

“It is crucial that those who live and work in Surrey’s countryside are given the opportunity to have their say.

“I am often told that those impacted by rural crime feel there is little point in reporting. It is true that more must be done to tackle criminality impacting our countryside in Surrey.

“But I hope that this forum will reassure residents that we do take rural crime seriously, and that their reports matter.

“During the evening, those who attend will have the opportunity to speak to senior leaders from Surrey Police and hear more about the work that is going on in our countryside.

“Distressing”

“Being a victim of any crime can be hugely distressing and isolating, a reaction that is often pronounced in more remote rural communities.

“Rural and agricultural crime affects more than just its immediate victims. It can impact jobs, the environment and the economy.

“The theft of high-value equipment has also been linked to organised criminality, resulting in huge profits to some of society’s worst offenders.

“If you live or work in a rural community, we welcome you to the first Rural Crime Forum.”

The event will take place at Busbridge Village Hall between 6pm and 7.30pm. Sign up by following this link.

The image shows a group of people looking at the camera. Most are wearing a high-visibility uniform. They are the Surrey Search and Rescue volunteers. Also among the group are two blonde women wearing jeans and jackets. These women are Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson. Everyone is looking at the camera and smiling. They are standing in a concrete car park, and it is night time.

The volunteers making a life-or-death difference to some of Surrey’s vulnerable missing people

Posted on 11th August 2025 | by Alex Winter

A team of specially-trained volunteers – and their dogs – are on call in Surrey 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to search for lost or missing people.

Surrey Search and Rescue is one of the busiest lowland teams in the UK, and their work can make a life-or-death difference to the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Volunteers, all of whom are members of the public, are trained to give first aid to those in need before evacuating them to safety.

Searches can be carried out across a range of terrain, including woodland, farmland, in urban environments, and near water. There is also an aerial capacity using drones.

Around 80 people volunteer their time to the organisation, helping to search for some of the 2,100 people who go missing in Surrey each year.

In late July, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson joined the team for a training exercise in woodland near Guildford.

During the evening, volunteers trained their dogs to search over large distances. Both Lisa and Ellie were recruited to hide in the woods for the dogs to find.

The Commissioner said: “This voluntary specialist search team support Surrey Police and other emergency services to find missing vulnerable adults and children.

“No matter the time of day or night, teams respond as quickly as possible to minimise the time a person is at risk.

Unsung heroes

“They operate in farmland, urban areas and woodland, while some volunteers specialise in water rescues and search dog training.

“Surrey Search and Rescue relies wholly on donations, and the work of these unsung heroes is absolutely invaluable.

“Seeing the team in action has been fantastic, and although we’ve had just a brief glimpse of the challenges they face, it’s so impressive to see their professionalism and dedication.”

Ellie said: “I’d like to thank everyone who gives their time to Surrey Search and Rescue to support the emergency services and help save the lives of some truly vulnerable people.”

The image shows Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend walking through a town centre with two police officers in uniform. Lisa, who has blonde hair, stands on the right of the image. She wears a black jacket and trousers. The officers, one male and one female, are wearing their uniforms and police hats, and they are in the middle of a conversation with Lisa as they all walk past a branch of Marks and Spencer.

Plain-clothed officers join revellers in Epsom and Guildford for Operation Shield

Posted on 31st July 2025 | by Alex Winter

AN OPERATION that aims to tackle offences including violence against women and girls and drug dealing has seen officers flood two Surrey towns during July.

Op Shield deploys uniformed officers and PCSOs alongside plain-clothed Behavioural Detection Officers trained to spot signs of predatory behaviour.

The initiative took place in Epsom and Guildford last month as part of Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer, a major new campaign focusing on town centres. The scheme brings together partners across Surrey to deal with crimes that blight communities, including violence against women and girls, violent offending, retail crime, and anti-social behaviour.

During the evenings, officers spoke with members of the public and handed-out anti-spiking kits, including caps to place over glasses. A police dog was also deployed in each town to search for drugs.

Plain-clothed officers joined the crowds at bars and clubs to look for anyone behaving suspiciously, before alerting uniformed colleagues.

Anyone considered a concern was stopped and spoken to by officers.

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, joined the team in Epsom, while Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson was part of foot patrols in Guildford town centre.

Preventing violence against women and girls is a key priority for both the Commissioner, who has made it a cornerstone of her Police and Crime Plan, and the Force.

Plan’s cornerstone

Lisa said: “This brilliant operation acts as a deterrent by making our town centres hostile to those who display predatory behaviour.

“Our specially-trained Behavioural Detection Officers look out for signs of suspicious behaviour, before flagging their concerns with uniformed colleagues. The aim is to prevent criminality from being committed altogether.

“These types of operations matter to the public. We want to prevent women and girls from becoming victims wherever possible, and to ensure that everyone feels confident to report offences to Surrey Police.

“Promise made”

“I fund a huge range of organisations that support those who do become victims, such as the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre in Guildford and the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.

“This work is at the core of the promise I made to return to back to basics policing.

“There is a long way to go. Victims of sexual offences are facing lengthy delays to get to court, with trials now being listed in 2028 and 2029.

“That’s why our ongoing partnership work with councils, the wider criminal justice system and services across the county is so vital.”

Deputy Commissioner joins countywide fight against fraud and serious organised crime

Posted on 28th July 2025 | by Chantal Robehmed

A series of disruption and engagement days have taken place across the county to tackle serious organised crime and raise awareness of rogue trading, fraud and scams.

The events, organised by the Surrey Organised Crime (SOC) Partnership, included action days which resulted in a series of arrests, as well as engagement stands in Mole Valley, Runnymede and Waverley.

Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, joined the engagement stand where advice was shared with members of the public.

Elsewhere, roads policing teams and partners including the Driving Vehicle Standards Agency carried out checks on the A24 in Dorking, Hardwick Lane in Chertsey, and the B2130 Godalming to Cranleigh road.

Seven arrests

The teams conducted stop checks on commercial vehicles and the waste carriage industry.

Across the three locations, 96 vehicles were stopped, with 10 vehicles being seized and seven arrests made for drug driving.

One vehicle was found to be overloaded in excess of two tonnes and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) checked 62 fuel samples.

More than 600 people in Dorking, Chertsey and Farnham also visited stands run by Surrey Police’s Safer Communities Teams and the Economic Crimes Unit, Trading Standards, Crimestoppers and Age UK.

Advice given

Advice was given about doorstep rogue trading, financial abuse, investment fraud and romance scams.

Ellie said: “The brilliant results achieved across these six days of action are testament to the strong collaboration between partners to tackle fraud and support residents”.

“Proactive engagement not only disrupts criminal enterprises on the ground but also works to protect Surrey residents and businesses for the future.

“Over half of crime committed in Surrey is fraud – it is this country’s fastest growing type of crime, with almost half of all adults being targeted, and perpetrators are using increasingly clever methods to target victims.

“A clear message”

“The partnership work including these events are a clear message to serious organised crime networks that we are working to disrupt activity, protect vulnerable people and make our communities safer.”

Lee Ormandy, chair of the Surrey SOC Partnership Board, said: “We will continue to bring together the expertise and resources of various agencies, enabling an effective and comprehensive approach to tackling SOC and protecting vulnerable individuals and businesses.

“By working together, we achieve outcomes that would be difficult or impossible for individual agencies to achieve alone.”

How to keep safe online and by phone:

Always question and verify unsolicited calls, texts or emails requesting your personal or financial information such as name, address or bank details. Contact the company directly using a known email or phone number before sharing any personal or sensitive information.
Install up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall on your computer. Ensure your browser is set to the highest level of security.
Do not click on links in unexpected emails and text messages, even if they look genuine. Banks and financial institutions will not send you an email asking you to click on a link and confirm your bank details. Call your bank instead using a known phone number or email or use a phone number from a genuine piece of correspondence or the back of your bank card.
Use Verified by Visa or MasterCard Secure Code whenever you are given the option while shopping online. This involves you registering a password with your card company and adds an additional layer of security to online transactions with signed-up retailers.
Check your credit file regularly through companies such as Callcredit, Equifax and Experian, and look for any suspicious entries you don’t recognise.

How to keep safe from rogue traders:

Try to avoid talking to unexpected ‘tradespeople’ at your door as it is unusual that legitimate tradespeople will cold call you.
If possible, get quotes for work from at least three different companies.
Check that the trader is registered with an accredited trade body and an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme.
Avoid paying for work at your doorstep and do not go to a cash machine if asked to by a trader.
Remember that even if you sign a contract, you are legally entitled to a 14-day cancellation period.
Make sure to report any rogue traders and scams to Trading Standards.

Report all incidents of doorstep crime to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or to the police on 101.

In the event of an emergency, call 999.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, a blonde woman who wears a beige roll-neck jumper, looks directly into the camera. Her expression is stern and her arms are folded.

Deputy Commissioner says catapults must be treated similarly to knives in letter to ministers

Posted on 16th July 2025 | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner has called on the Government to tighten up laws on the sale and possession of catapults.

In a letter Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ellie Vesey-Thompson said there is an urgent need for further action.

Ellie warned catapults must be subject to the same rules as knives, giving police greater powers to crack down on those who use them as weapons.

It comes as attacks on wild fowl spike in Surrey. The Shepperton Swan Sanctuary has rescued around 30 wounded birds this year, and a similar number are believed to have died through injuries sustained by projectiles fired from catapults.

Sanctuary volunteer Danni Rogers started a petition calling for the sale of catapults and petition to be made illegal. It received more than 10,000 signatures, including that of Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend.

The previous Government responded to the petition with a statement that says existing legislation provides the “correct balance between protecting wildlife… whilst also allowing the public to enjoy legitimate pastimes”.

Police officers can use their powers to deal with offences involving catapults, but Ellie said additional power of seizure to prevent criminal behaviour would support communities across the country.

Catapults are also linked to anti-social behaviour in Surrey. In 2024, cars parked at a church were targeted with projectiles in a Tandridge village, and there have been reports of animals seriously injured when they were fired at in Ash Vale during May.

“Treat catapults as we would knives”

Ellie said: “I am urging the Government to listen to the concerns of Surrey’s residents.

“It is time to start treating catapults as we would knives. Anyone caught with one must have a legitimate purpose for doing so, and it should be their responsibility to prove that purpose if they’re stopped by the police.

“Attacks on wild birds are increasing in Surrey. In late February, a swan was rescued from the banks of the Thames in Staines with a missile lodged in its head.

“The previous month, a duck was severely injured by a ball-bearing fired from a catapult.

Horror injuries

“In May, people with catapults were seen at Chertsey Bridge firing at swans and ducks, and just over the border in Fleet, Hampshire, a male swan suffered an extensive facial injury at a nature reserve, while the body of a goose with similar injuries was also found.

“Both had been attacked with ball bearings fired from a catapult.

“The connection between catapults and both anti-social behaviour and vandalism are clear. These are key concerns for residents, and the time has come for stronger measures to tackle this type of offending.

“These incidents are deeply distressing. In the wrong hands, catapults can be deadly, and more legislation is urgently needed.”

Read Ellie’s letter here.

“It’s what residents want to see”: Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer begins

Posted on 3rd July 2025 | by Alex Winter

A MAJOR new campaign to keep Surrey’s town centres safe over the summer has launched.

The Home Office-backed Safer Streets Summer Initiative will see a focus on the busiest areas of the county to bolster crime prevention and community safety.

The scheme, which brings together the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Surrey Police and partners across Surrey, including schools, councils, health services, businesses, and transport and community organisations, aims to tackle crimes that blight communities.

Anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, retail crime and violent offending will be among the types of criminality targeted with visible patrols and special police operations. These crime types typically increase during the summer months.

Officers will also proactively use anti-social behaviour powers and visit retail premises to offer advice, reassurance and support.

Major summer campaign begins

Locations for the initiative span the county, including Staines and Addlestone in the north, Farnham and Camberley in the west, Dorking further to the south, and Caterham in the east.

Targeted activity will take place until September, with a range of activities planned in each of the towns.

Plain-clothed officers will spot signs of suspicious behaviour in the county’s busiest nightspots, while joint operations are set to target crime enabled by motorbikes and mopeds.

Youth engagement officers will work with partners to find opportunities for young people during school holidays, and roads policing teams will be on the lookout for dangerous or distracted drivers.

Targeted operations

Officers will also mount specific patrols tackling retail crime and anti-social behaviour in tandem with partners from environmental health, licensing and trading standards.

News of the initiative comes as Surrey marks national Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week.

Anti-social behaviour is a key priority for the county’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams throughout the year, and more information on how to report anti-social behaviour or access help can be found here.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has made available funding for any developing town centre work that needs support over the course of the summer.

The Commissioner said: “While Surrey remains one of the safest places to live in the country, I know that anti-social behaviour, retail crime and violence against women and girls are among the issues that matter most in our communities.

“It’s what residents want to see”

“The Safer Streets Summer Initiative will allow police officers and staff, along with our fantastic partners, to put a spotlight on neighbourhood policing and community safety.

“This type of visibility is what residents have told me they want to see.

“The aim isn’t simply police enforcement – it’s collaboration, and we aim not only to respond to crime, but to prevent it altogether.

“A huge range of activities will be taking place across the summer.

“More anti-social behaviour warning letters will be sent out, while data and intelligence will be used to identify areas that are disproportionately impacted by specific crime types.

Tailored plan of action

“There will also be various days of targeted action and close working with some of our key partners.

“We will work with Business Improvement Districts to protect retailers and support vulnerable children to divert them away from crime.

“Each of the town centres identified for additional work as part of the scheme will see its own tailored plan of action unfolding over the summer months.

“I look forward to sharing more about this initiative in the weeks to come, and I wish all residents a Safer Streets Summer of their own.”