Category: Working with communities to feel safe

The image shows a large group of people standing on a path in front of a low bridge. The bridge is painted in purples and blues. In front of the group is a ribbon, and one of the people in the image - Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend - has a pair of scissors in her hand. The group are looking into the camera and smiling.

Commissioner unveils new mural on Epsom footpath highlighted as a concern by residents

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner has unveiled a new mural along an Epsom footpath connecting a train station with one of the county’s largest colleges.

Lisa Townsend contributed to the artwork in Epsom through her Community Safety Fund. The painting was created in response to reports of anti-social behaviour and robbery on the public path connecting Nescot College to Ewell East station.

Concerns about the alleyway were raised to Epsom & Ewell’s Community Safety Partnership’s Joint Action Group. The council then applied to Lisa for funding, and work began in September.

The mural was designed and painted by Positive Arts in collaboration with art and design students from Nescot.

It features key elements from the college’s 70-year history, including images from old prospectus covers, the Spirit of the Wind image from the old logo, and local flora and fauna.


Artwork unveiled

Lisa said: “It’s really important to me that residents in Surrey are safe in their communities, and that they feel safe too.

“The footpath between Nescot and the Ewell East Train Station was highlighted by residents as a location of concern, and I have meetings about this issue with partners including Surrey Police teams, college leaders and officers from British Transport Police.

“The beautiful mural aims to reclaim this public space, which is used by both students and residents. Improvements to lighting, police patrols and additional private security will also bolster community safety and crime prevention in the area.

“There are seven murals within Epsom and Ewell, each of which helps to foster pride in our communities. I’m delighted to have been able to contribute to the borough’s latest artwork.”

“Foster pride”

Councillor Shanice Goldman, who chairs the council’s Crime and Disorder Committee, said: “This community mural is a fantastic example of how multiple partners can work together for the betterment of the community.

“It is also a valuable step forward in combatting anti-social behaviour by rejuvenating an unloved, run down part of the borough and instilling a sense of pride and ownership of the area in the students.”

“The council has commissioned a number of murals across the borough as part of our Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy over the past year, and these have already had a positive impact on reducing anti-social behaviour, such as reducing graffiti tagging.

“I hope this latest mural will achieve similar results.” 

The image is a panoramic photo of a bridge over a public footpath. The bridge has been painted with images relating to Nescot College - it has bright colours and images from the college's history.
Four people stand together facing the camera. All are smiling, and two are in Surrey Police uniform. On the left is Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, a blonde woman in a dress. Beside her is Councillor Paul Woodward, who wears a blue top. Next in the line is Borough Commander Matt Walton, who wears police uniform. On the right of the photograph is T/Chief Superintendent Aimee Ramm, also in uniform.

“Fantastic news for residents”: Borough policing team solves 85 per cent of all shoplifting reports

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A SURREY Police team is turning the tide on shoplifting – as officers solve 85 per cent of the retail crime cases they are tasked with investigating. 

There has been a huge rise in reports of retail crime in Spelthorne after the borough’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, led by Inspector Matt Walton, urged the business community to report every incident. 

And at a residents’ meeting in Ashford town centre last week, Inspector Walton and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson shared news of the Force’s recent successes. 

Reports of retail crime are up by almost 150 per cent in Spelthorne. Around a quarter of all retail crime cases reported in the borough are solved. 

However, a huge 85 per cent of all retail crime cases assigned to Insp Walton’s team have been solved in the past three months as the team aim to bring every offender to justice. 

Team’s success

Meanwhile, Spelthorne has seen a 4.7 per cent decrease in all crime types over the past two months. 

Church Road in Ashford is one of four ‘hotspots’ in the borough, alongside the Elmsleigh Centre and Two Rivers in Staines, and Sunbury Cross. Hotspots have comparatively higher levels of crime than surrounding areas. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend secured £1million from the Government to fund additional policing resources in hotspot areas across the county. 

In September, four men were arrested after an alleged raid at a convenience store in Church Road. Enquiries continue. 

“Crime that blights communities”

Ellie said: “I was delighted to join the residents’ meeting in Ashford and answer questions on crime and policing in the town. 

“A huge amount of work is going on across Spelthorne to tackle the criminality that blights our communities, including anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and retail crime. 

“Church Road in Ashford has recently been designated as a ‘hotspot’, which means there will be more high-visibility patrols – fantastic news for residents. Over the past two months alone, there have been 60 extra foot patrols.” 

Insp Walton said: “Until very recently, we had seen a sustained increase in crime across Spelthorne of between one and two per cent a year. 

‘Report it’ plea

“However, over the last couple of months, that has changed, and there has been a decrease of 4.7 per cent in Spelthorne. 

“We have made sure that we are maintaining our community engagement, with the key message that all crime should be reported to us. 

“In some areas, this has seen a large spike in reporting. For example, we have seen a 150 per cent increase in reports of retail crime. 

“Across the borough, 25 per cent of all shoplifting incidents are being solved. When it comes to retail crime cases allocated to my team, that rises to 85 per cent. 

“However, we know that when reports of crime drop, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s less crime, but rather that there’s less confidence in reporting crime. 

“I’d urge anyone affected by criminality to keep reporting it.” 

The photo shows Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, a blonde woman in a striped shirt and jeans, sitting on a rock with a river in the background. She is looking at the camera and smiling. Visible in the distance is Chertsey Bridge.

Cygnet shot dead in catapult attack as crime network backs Deputy Commissioner’s calls for change

Posted on | by Alex Winter

VOLUNTEERS working to rehabilitate Surrey wildlife after “devastating” catapult attacks say tighter legislation is urgently needed to tackle criminality. 

In the spring, Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson urged ministers to give police greater powers to crack down on those who use catapults as weapons. 

Since publishing her letter, which can be read here, she has received support from two swan rescues and the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN). Tim Passmore, chair of the NRCN, said it is time to send a “clear message”. 

Meanwhile, on visits to the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary in Spelthorne, Ellie has discussed the issue further with those who care for wounded birds. 

The Deputy wants catapults to be treated similarly to knives – putting the onus on any carrier to prove they have a good reason to carry such a weapon, rather than the police to have evidence of unlawful intention. 

Deputy’s call

This week, the BBC is airing a documentary on the harms caused by catapult use.  

Danni Rogers, who gives his time to rescuing birds for the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary, launched a petition on the issue. It received more than 20,000 signatures. 

He told Ellie: “Swans, geese, ducks and domestic animals including cats are being shot and killed in Surrey. 

“I was called to a rescue recently that involved a family of 10 swans – mum and dad and eight cygnets. On the first occasion, one of the swans had fishing line around its leg, which I quickly resolved before spending some time feeding the family. 

“The following day, I was called again as one of the cygnets had been found dead just 50 feet away. It had been shot in the head, suffering a high-velocity, single-impact injury. 

“It’s absolutely devastating to attend incidents like these.” 

Ellie said: “Just one attack is too many, but by mid-summer, the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary had rescued around 30 wounded birds, and even more are believed to have been killed by catapults. 

“There can be a misconception that what we’re talking about is a stick fitted with an elastic band. Catapults can actually be very high-powered, accurate weapons, which are cheap and easy to buy online. 

“For less than £20, anyone can purchase a large catapult with a pistol grip handle, capable of firing with a high degree of accuracy, as well as 100 ball bearings.  

“Abhorrent”

“Using a catapult to target wildlife and property is not only unacceptable; it’s abhorrent. 

“I have asked the Government to look at changing the legislation surrounding the carrying of catapults to bring it in line with laws around carrying knives. 

“This would recognise the significant damage these weapons could cause.  

“I am determined to continue campaigning for change. This issue matters to Surrey’s residents, and it matters to Surrey Police.” 

The image shows a group of police officers in uniform walking through Guildford town centre. In front of them is a McDonald's. One of the officers has a sniffer dog on a lead. To the left of the image is a marked police car.

“Major successes” achieved during Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer initiative, Commissioner says

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A summer crackdown on criminality has resulted in a series of “major successes” across Surrey, the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner says. 

The Safer Streets Summer initiative, which bolstered crime prevention and community safety, targeted crime types that typically increase during the summer months. 

These include anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, retail crime and violent offending. 

Eleven town centre locations across the county were chosen for the initiative, including Staines, Addlestone, Farnham, Camberley, Dorking and Caterham. 

Now the Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, has thanked all those involved with the scheme’s success. Surrey Police, local schools, councils, health services, businesses, and community organisations partnered with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver a range of initiatives. 

During the blitz, each of the town centres saw activity targeted at specific issues impacting communities. High-visibility police patrols and operations led to a series of arrests across the county, including: 

  • A drug dealer found with 32 wraps of cocaine in a sock and two youths found with telescopic batons, large quantities of cannabis and scales in Elmbridge 
  • A man accused of five counts of sexual assault and a 30-year-old man accused of offences including theft of a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of cannabis in Epsom and Ewell 
  • Suspected shoplifters detained moments after the alleged offences took place during two separate incidents in Mole Valley 
  • A man suspected of stealing an e-bike he was riding, as well as additional offences of possessing drugs and a bladed article, in Reigate and Banstead 
  • Three arrests relating to an operation tackling anti-social riding of motorbikes and mopeds in Tandridge 

A number of those arrests arose after officers stopped and searched people riding e-bikes. Further arrests were made during plain-clothed patrols. 

Plain-clothed patrols

Officers also worked with key partners to raid shops selling illegal vapes and alcohol to children, while plain-clothed officers visited pubs and clubs in busy night-spots to look for signs of predatory behaviour. 

Meanwhile, youth engagement officers worked with partners to create opportunities for children and young people during the six-week summer break. 

The Commissioner said: “Surrey’s Safer Streets Summer has resulted in a series of major successes across each of the 11 town centres. 

“And while summer has come to an end, our work tackling criminality that blights our communities continues, now and forever. 

Commissioner’s thanks

“This initiative put a spotlight on the work our fantastic policing teams do every single day.

“But the bread-and-butter police work of investigating, patrolling, dealing with criminality and aiming to prevent offending from every taking place will never end. 

“I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the achievements of the summer. This includes police officers and staff, councils, local Business Improvement Districts and the organisations supporting children and young people. 

“There’s much more to come, and I look forward to updating Surrey’s residents in the weeks ahead.” 

The picture shows three images. The largest, at the top, shows a police officer on his knees inside a car. He has handcuffs at his belt and is looking behind a seat with a torch. At the bottom left is a photograph of Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend, a blonde woman in a white shirt. She is looking into the camera with a serious expression. Behind her is a large sign, and the words 'Surrey Police' are visible. To the right is an image of officers in uniform walking through Guildford town centre close to a McDonald's. One of the officers has a sniffer dog on a lead.
A group of people stand facing the camera. All have their hands clasped in front of them, and all are smiling. Five of the six people pictured are police officers and PCSOs in Surrey Police uniform. The last person pictured wears a blue dress.

Rural communities gather to discuss crime and policing at two landmark meetings

Posted on | by Alex Winter

FARMERS, equestrians, anglers, landowners, and representatives from rural organisations have joined Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner at two landmark meetings this month.

Ellie Vesey-Thompson and Surrey Police’s Rural Crime Tactical Lead, Chief Inspector Chris Tinney, hosted two Rural Crime Forum events for rural communities during September. 

The first, a public meeting in Busbridge, Waverley, drew in around 50 attendees who were invited to discuss issues of concern. 

Poaching, unauthorised encampments, recent arrests, anti-social behaviour and police’s relationships with the community were among the topics raised during the evening. 

Landmark meetings

Attendees were then invited to chat to PCs and PCSOs from Waverley and Guildford who had attended to support the event. 

A week later, Ellie and Ch Insp Tinney invited partners from the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Country, Land and Business Association (CLA), the National Trust, the Environment Agency and the British Association for Shooting and Conservancy (BASC) to discuss the matters raised. 

Further forum events are planned, and Ch Insp Tinney said he will remain focused on policing rural issues including poaching, reducing anti-social behaviour, acquisitive crime, and waste crime, including large-scale flytipping. 

The Deputy Commissioner, who leads on rural crime for the Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I understand the challenges our rural communities face and how impactful crime can be. 

“Under-reported”

“Rural crime can be complex, is not always well-understood, and can often go under-reported.  

“I often visit rural communities through my work, and it is of key importance to me that those who live and work in Surrey’s countryside are given the opportunity to have their say.

“This is why I have established Surrey’s Rural Crime Forum.

“During the public meeting, members of these communities told me about the issues that concern them most, and I am grateful to all those who took the time to join us on the evening. 

Problem-solving

“These issues were then discussed at the partner meeting that took place at Mount Browne the following week.

“This second meeting enables better co-operation with partners to help us problem-solve together, and ultimately improve lives in our rural communities.

“I hope these meetings will reassure residents that Surrey Police takes rural crime seriously, and that their reports matter. 

“I look forward to providing further updates in the coming months.”

Read more about Ellie’s work:

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 | 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 | 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:

  1. Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
  2. 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.

This graphic has a green background with the logo for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on it. To the left is a stripe of yellow. The text reads: "Surrey Rural Crime Forum. Busbridge Village Hall. Monday September 15, 6pm-7.30pm. Sign up here: surreyruralcrmeforum.eventbrite.co.uk." The image also features the logos for Surrey's Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and Surrey Police, as well as an image of a landscape at Box Hill in Surrey.