Category: Working with communities to feel safe

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend sat with a member of Surrey Police contact staff

Commissioner hails dramatic improvement in 999 and 101 call answering times – as best results on record are achieved

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has hailed the dramatic improvement in how long it takes Surrey Police to answer calls for help after new figures revealed that current waiting times are the lowest on record.

The Commissioner said that in the last five months, Surrey Police has seen sustained progress in how quickly callers to the 999 and non-emergency 101 numbers are able to speak to contact centre staff.

The latest data shows that, as of this February, 97.8 per cent of 999 calls were answered within the national target of 10 seconds. This compares to only 54% in March last year, and is the highest data on Force record.

Meanwhile, the average time in February that it took Surrey Police to answer calls to the non-emergency 101 number fell to 36 seconds, the lowest wait times on Force record. This compares to 715 seconds in March 2023.

The figures have this week been verified by Surrey Police. In January 2024, the Force answered almost 93 per cent of 999 calls within ten seconds, BT has verified.

In January 2024, the Force answered almost 93 per cent of 999 calls within ten seconds. The February figures have been confirmed by the Force, and awaiting verification from call provider BT.

In December last year, a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Services (HMICFRS) highlighted concerns around the service residents receive when they contact police on 999, 101 and digital 101.

Inspectors visited Surrey Police during the summer as part of their Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) review. They rated the Force’s performance in responding to the public as ‘inadequate’ and said improvements were needed.

The Commissioner and the Chief Constable also heard residents’ experiences of contacting Surrey Police during the recent ‘Policing Your Community’ roadshow where in-person and online events were held in all 11 boroughs across the county.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I know from speaking to residents that being able to get hold of Surrey Police when you need them is absolutely vital.

Lowest wait times on record

“Unfortunately there were times last year when residents calling 999 and 101 were not always getting the service they deserved and this was a situation that urgently needed to be addressed.

“I know how frustrating it has been for some people trying to get through, particularly to the non-emergency 101 during busy times.

“I have spent a lot of time in our contact centre seeing how our call handlers deal with the varied and often challenging calls they receive and they do a phenomenal job.

“But staff shortages were putting an incredible strain on them and I know the Force have been working incredibly hard to improve the situation and the service our public receive.

“Phenomenal job”

“My office has been supporting them throughout that process so I am delighted to see that the answering times are the best they have ever been.

“That means that when our residents do need to contact Surrey Police, they are having their call answered quickly and efficiently.

“This has not been a quick fix – we have seen these improvements sustained over the last five months.

“With the measures now in place, I am confident going forward that Surrey Police will maintain this level of service when responding to the public.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend with a member of coop staff

Organised crime is fuelling “abhorrent” abuse and violence against shopworkers, Surrey’s Commissioner warns in meetings with retailers

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SHOPWORKERS are being attacked and abused amid a nation-wide boom in shoplifting fuelled by organised criminals, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner has warned.

Lisa Townsend blasted “abhorrent” violence against retail workers as Respect for Shopworkers Week, organised by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), got underway on Monday.

The Commissioner has met with retailers in Oxted, Dorking and Ewell in the past week to hear about the impact crime has on retailers.

Lisa heard some staff have been assaulted when trying to stop shoplifters, with the crime acting as a flashpoint for violence, abuse and anti-social behaviour.

Criminals are stealing to order, workers say, with laundry supplies, wine and chocolates targeted most frequently. Profits made from shoplifting across the UK are used in the commission of other serious offences, including drug trafficking, police believe.

‘Abhorrent’

Surrey has among the fewest reports of shoplifting in the country. However, Lisa said the offence is often linked to “unacceptable and disgusting” violence and verbal abuse.

One retailer told the Commissioner: “As soon as we try to challenge shoplifting, it can open the door to abuse.

“The safety of our workers is paramount, but it makes us feel powerless.”

Lisa said: “Shoplifting is often viewed as a victimless crime but it’s far from it and can have a significant impact on businesses, their staff and the surrounding community.

“Retail workers across the country provided a vital lifeline to our communities during the Covid pandemic and it’s crucial that we take care of them in return.

“So I find it hugely concerning to hear about the unacceptable and abhorrent violence and abuse suffered by shopworkers. The victims of these offences are not statistics, they are hard-working members of society who are suffering just for doing their job.

Commissioner’s anger

“I have been out speaking to businesses in Oxted, Dorking and Ewell over the last week to hear about their experiences and I am committed to working with our police teams to address the concerns that were raised.

“I know Surrey Police are committed to tackling this issue and a big part of the new Chief Constable Tim De Meyer’s plan for the Force is to concentrate on what policing does best – fighting crime and protecting people.

“This includes focusing on some of those crime types such as shoplifting which is what the public want to see.

“The links between shoplifting and serious organised criminality prove how vital it is for police across the country to get a grip on shoplifting. We need a co-ordinated approach to tackle this issue so I am pleased to hear that there are plans for a specialist police team to be set up nationally to target shoplifting as a ‘high-harm’ cross-border crime.

“I would urge all retailers to keep reporting incidents to police so resources can be allocated to where they are needed most.”

In October, the government launched the Retail Crime Action Plan, which includes a police commitment to prioritise urgently attending the scene of shoplifting when violence is committed against shop workers, where security guards have detained an offender, or when evidence is needed to secure evidence.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend with representatives from USDAW and Co-op employee Amila Heenatigala at the store in Ewell

Paul Gerrard, Co-op’s Director of Public Affairs, said: “Safety and security is a clear priority for Co-op, and we are pleased that the serious issue of retail crime, which impacts our communities so dramatically, has been acknowledged.

“We’re invested in colleague and store safety, and we welcome the ambition of the Retail Crime Action Plan, but there is a long way to go. Actions must match the words and we urgently need to see the changes take place so the desperate calls to police from frontline colleagues are responded to and the criminals start to realise there are real consequences to their actions.”

According to an USDAW survey of 3,000 members, 65 per cent of those who responded have been verbally abused at work, while 42 per cent have been threatened and five per cent have suffered a direct assault.

The union’s general secretary Paddy Lillis said six in ten incidents were triggered by shoplifting – and warned the offence is “not a victimless crime”.

To report an ongoing emergency to Surrey Police, call 999. Reports can also be made via 101 or the digital 101 channels.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Commissioner secures £1m in government funding for projects to improve safety in three Surrey towns

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

Three communities in Surrey are set to receive a huge boost to their safety after Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend secured nearly £1m in the latest round of the government’s Safer Streets funding.

Projects in Walton, Redhill and Guildford will benefit from the Home Office cash after it was announced today that the proposals submitted for the county earlier this year by the Commissioner’s office have been successful.

Lisa said a number of planned measures will make all areas safer places to live and hailed the announcement as fantastic news for residents in those communities.

The grant is part of the fifth round of Safer Streets funding which has so far seen over £120m shared across England and Wales for projects to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and make areas safer for women and girls.

£1m safety boost

Three bids totalling £992,232 were submitted by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office after working together with Surrey Police and borough and district council partners to identify areas most in need of investment and support.

The projects will now benefit from around £330,000 each and will be further boosted by an additional £720,000 in match funding from partners involved.

In Walton Town and Walton North, the money will be used to tackle anti-social behaviour in public spaces, which includes everything from drug dealing and taking to vandalism and littering.

Extra CCTV will be installed and youth outreach programmes will be launched while the funding will also pay for security measures in the Drewitts Court car park, such as speed bumps, anti-climb paint and motion-sensor lighting. Improvements will also be made to the community garden at the St John’s estate.

In Redhill, the funding will focus on the town centre with measures to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. It’ll pay for a Safe Space Hut as well as YMCA outreach activities for young people in the town, community engagement and an information campaign on anti-social behaviour.

Those in Guildford identified theft, criminal damage, assault and substance misuse as some of the key issues affecting their town centre. The funding will be used for street marshal patrols, youth engagement events and a multimedia stand that will beam up-to-date safety information to residents and visitors.

Previous Safer Streets funding has supported other similar projects across the county including in Woking, Stanwell, Godstone and Bletchingley, Epsom, Addlestone and Sunbury Cross.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Safer Streets is a fantastic initiative that is making a real difference to our communities in Surrey so I am delighted that three more of our towns are set to benefit from this £1m funding.

‘Fantastic initiative’

“Our residents regularly tell me they want to see anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood crime being tackled so this is really great news for those living and working in those areas.

“Whilst it is my office that submits the proposal to the Home Office, it is a real team effort together with Surrey Police and our colleagues in the borough and district councils to secure this funding which goes such a long way to improving safety for our residents.

“I will ensure my office continues to work with our partners to identify other areas that could benefit from this extra funding in the future.”

‘Delighted’

Ali Barlow, Surrey Police’s T/Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for local policing, said: “I’m delighted that these bids were successful as we’ve seen through previous funding what a difference this support can make.

“Our neighbourhood policing teams already work closely with local authorities and other services to identify areas of concern in our communities and take appropriate action and this will only assist them further.

“The initiatives that are planned for Guildford, Redhill and Walton will help residents to be safe and feel safe as well as improve our public spaces which is something everyone will benefit from.”

Key interventions

Cllr Rod Ashford, Executive Member for Communities, Leisure and Culture at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council said: “This is good news.

“The Council is committed to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls. We hope that this funding will go a long way in helping us continue the good work we are doing with the police and wider partners to improve community safety in Redhill.”

Councillor Bruce McDonald, Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council: “This is a great opportunity to address anti-social behaviour in Walton-on-Thames from crime prevention through environmental design to supporting young people and parents.

“We look forward to working together with a range of partners to deliver these key interventions.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie-Vesey Thompson

“It can hugely profit the criminal gangs who cause so much misery”: Deputy Commissioner warns of “extremely dangerous” consequences of rural crime

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner says the profits of rural crime are helping to fuel organised crime across the UK.

This week marks National Rural Crime Week, which aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by countryside communities. Ahead of the week of action, Ellie Vesey-Thompson joined Surrey Police’s PC Laura Rowley on a visit to three farms in the east of Surrey to learn more about the key issues affecting rural communities in the county.

Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage were among the top priorities for those living in the Surrey countryside.

Dog attacks on livestock are also a key concern. In Dorking, a farmer lost more than 30 sheep during a single incident. The same farmer also reported young people repeatedly climbing stacked hay bales on his property to light barbecues and causing criminal damage to the bales by cutting them open and strewing the contents around.

Crime warning

In a separate incident, vandals recently trespassed onto land, broke into a pheasant pen and killed a number of the birds, leaving the bodies in a pile for the owners to find the following day.

Theft of plant machinery and specialist GPS units are particularly lucrative for organised crime groups (OCGs). National reports suggest that these OCGs are exploiting current sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of the war with Ukraine to steal farm machinery to order.

During a rural crime conference in London earlier this year, delegates including the Deputy Commissioner heard there are strong links connecting rural offences – including burglaries committed on farmland – to organised crime.

Ellie, who carries the rural crime remit for the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, said: “This issue has a significant impact. Like a stone thrown in a pond, the harm caused can ripple outwards, causing far graver and more widely-reaching consequences than you’d first imagine.

“During the conference I heard from experts including Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, who leads the UK’s National Rural Crime Unit, that this type of offending is fuelled in part by organised crime groups.

“Machinery thefts not only cause financial harm and delays to farm communities, but often result in huge profits to the OCGs responsible.

“We know that organised crime does so much harm to society, and the crimes committed by gangs in rural areas can fund activities including drug and firearms trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

“Offences not linked to OCGs also have a huge impact. For example, youths lighting barbecues in a barn filled with hay might appear to be little more than an annoyance, but this reckless and extremely dangerous act could so easily result in tragedy.

‘It does so much harm’

“The deaths of livestock in dog attacks is not only hugely traumatic for the animals, but can also have a devastating impact on farmers, who are forced to deal with truly horrific scenes. Such incidents also drive up insurance premiums for them, and prices at the supermarket for those who have no connection to rural communities.

“Rural crime does not exist in a vacuum. These offences are serious and alarming, and they can cause huge distress to members of the public who have no connection whatsoever to the initial incident.

“We know rural crime is under-reported, at a direct contrast to how serious this type of crime is to this affected. I urge our countryside communities to report all incidents to Surrey Police.

“I’m hugely proud of our rural crime team, including the fantastic PC Rowley. Each member is dedicated to working with Surrey’s residents to identify offenders and bring them to justice, as well as increasing awareness of the damage this type of criminal behaviour can cause.”

Ellie attended a national conference outlining the links between rural crime and OCGs during the summer

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson speaking at event

“The impact can be truly devastating”: Deputy Commissioner hails community heroes at anti-social behaviour awards ceremony

Posted on | by Alex Winter

At the start of September, we recognised and celebrated colleagues, partners and individuals who have worked hard to help tackle, reduce and resolve anti-social behaviour in Surrey across the last two years.

The evening highlighted best practice partnership working, excellent problem-solving skills and dedicated community engagement and reassurance work. 

Members from partner organisations such as Woking Borough Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) team were recognised for their commitment to joint working with officers to investigate and solve numerous ASB incidents.

The reported incidents were coming from a property which was set up during lockdown to house 25 extremely vulnerable people.

Tackling ASB Awards evening.jpg

With a drive to protect the victims, a partial closure order was obtained for three months, which was then extended by another three months, and since the extension was granted, residents have stated that “this is now a nice place to live”.

PC Amy Norman was commended for her fantastic work in Spelthorne. Despite only joining the Neighbourhood Team a year ago, Amy has had a huge positive impact on the community.

After a spate of reports of petty theft and general nuisance to members of the public, it was identified that this was solely being committed by one individual.

Over several months Amy built a positive rapport with the young person and undertook safeguarding checks including regular welfare visits.

As a result of this, a social worker was assigned to the young individual and family, regular meetings with the local school have been put in place and the young person has reduced offending by 80 per cent.

Woking Council ASB team.jpg

Residents in Guildford had been suffering serious ASB issues for several years caused by one residential household.

Police Constables Isobel Parkinson and Madeline Neil began to tackle the problems and rebuild community trust and confidence.

Through their work, 15 anonymous impact statements were taken detailing personal suffering and torment by this resident. 

This resulted in the tenant being taken to court where a Closure Order was put in place and the tenant was evicted from the property.

PC Isobel Parkinson and PC Madeline Neil, along with the brave residents, were celebrated for their commitment to solving a longstanding issue and tackle ASB within their community.

PC Amy Norman.jpg

Jo Grimshaw, head of Anti-Social Behaviour for Surrey Police, said: “It was a fantastic evening and a great opportunity to celebrate and thank those who have worked tirelessly over the last two years to resolve and reduce ASB in their communities. 

“Anti-social behaviour cannot be solved by one agency alone and requires a real partnership approach. The partners that we work with are outstanding and help us to protect victims and ensure the right support is in place.

“Encouraging victims to stand up to and report ASB is paramount, and we are striving to create more resilient and confident communities. 

“I would like to extend my congratulations and thanks to all those who attended the event and for their incredible work to combat ASB in Surrey.”

The event was funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey and Surrey Crimestoppers. 

Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, who opened the event, said: “I’m delighted to celebrate the amazing work that’s being carried out by Surrey Police, partners and members of the public across the county to tackle anti-social behaviour in our communities. 

PC Maddie Neal and PC Izzy Parkinson.jpg

“These awards demonstrate the inspiring work that goes on to support victims and tackle anti-social behaviour by getting to the root cause of issues. 

“The impact of anti-social behaviour can be truly devastating for those affected, and we are dedicated to ensuring both that victims are always at the heart of our response and that serious and persistent offenders are brought to justice. 

“To those who are affected by anti-social behaviour, I urge you not to suffer in silence. Please report incidents to the appropriate agency. We are all here to help.” 

  • The Healthy Surrey website can help you understand what type of ASB you are experiencing, the best agency to report this to and how to access support services. If you feel you are not being listened to, or your ASB is continuing, the website also explains the ASB Case Review and how you can request one.
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands outside the reception of the Surrey Police Headquarters near Guildford

Commissioner applauds security operation following Epsom Derby Festival

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend has applauded the security operation at this year’s Epsom Derby Festival which foiled activists attempts to disrupt the event.

Early today, police teams arrested 19 people based on intelligence received that groups were intent on illegal action during the race meeting.

One person managed to get on the track during the main Derby race but was detained following swift action from racecourse security staff and Surrey Police officers. A total of 31 arrests were made during the day in connection with planned criminality.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend stands outside the reception of the Surrey Police Headquarters near Guildford

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “This year’s Derby Festival has seen the biggest security operation in its history and has been an incredibly challenging event for our police teams.

“Peaceful protest is one of the cornerstones of our democracy but sadly this year’s Festival has been the target of co-ordinated criminality by activists who made clear their intention to sabotage the event.

“Protesters were offered a safe space outside the main gates to demonstrate but there were a number who clearly signalled their determination to get onto the track and halt the race proceedings.

“I fully support the action taken by the Force in making those arrests early this morning in an effort to disrupt those plans.

“Attempting to enter a racetrack when horses are running or preparing to run not only puts the protester in danger but also risks the safety of other spectators and those involved in the racing.

“It is simply not acceptable and the vast majority of the public are fed up with such reckless behaviour being carried out in the name of protest.

“Thanks to the pro-active policing operation today and the quick reactions of security staff and officers, the race passed off on time and without major incident.

“I want to thank Surrey Police, and The Jockey Club, for the enormous effort that has gone into ensuring it was a safe and secure event for everyone who attended.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend smiling on sunny day next to sign that says Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Surrey Commissioner celebrates two years with £9million funding announcement

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner is celebrating two years in the job with the news that her team has secured almost £9million for key services around the county since her election.

Since Lisa Townsend was elected in 2021, her office has helped fund vital projects that support vulnerable victims of sexual and domestic abuse, reduce violence against women and girls and prevent crime in local communities across Surrey.

Members of Lisa’s Commissioning team are responsible for the dedicated funding streams that aim to increase community safety, reduce re-offending, support young people and help victims to cope and recover from their experiences.

Over the last two years that team have also successfully bid for millions of pounds of extra funding from government pots to support services and charities around the county.

In total, just under £9m has been secured, which the Commissioner says has made a real difference to the lives of people across Surrey.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend is celebrating two years since her election with a huge funding announcement

The Commissioner has her own budget drawn from the precept part of Surrey taxpayers’ council tax. Members of her commissioning team also bid for Government funding pots, which are used in their entirety to support projects and charities around the county.

Over the past two years, almost £9million in additional funding has been granted to support agencies working in victim support, sexual abuse, reducing reoffending, fraud and a range of other issues.

This includes:

Elsewhere, Surrey Police now has more officers than ever before following the government’s Operation Uplift. In total, the Force now has an additional 395 officers through a combination of Uplift funding and council tax contributions from the Surrey oublic – 136 more than the 259 target set by the government.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend with Surrey Police officers on electric bikes along the Woking Canal on a sunny day

In April, the Commissioner also welcomed Surrey Police’s new Chief Constable, Tim De Meyer, who was appointed following a thorough interview process earlier this year.

In order to ensure complete transparency with Surrey residents on policing matters, Lisa launched a dedicated Data Hub in February – becoming the first Police and Crime Commissioner to do so. The Hub includes information on emergency and non-emergency response times and the outcomes against specific offences, including burglary, domestic abuse and road safety offences. It also provides more information on Surrey Police’s budget and staffing.

£9m funding boost

But Lisa has acknowledged there are challenges facing the Force and Surrey’s residents, highlighting the work that remains to be done to retain officers and staff during the cost of living crisis.

There are also challenges for policing nationally to rebuild trust with communities and to support victims and witnesses of crime entering the criminal justice system.

Lisa said: “The last two years have flown by, but so far I have loved every minute of being Commissioner for this county.

“People often focus on the ‘crime’ side of being a Police and Crime Commissioner, but it is really important that we do not forget the amazing work my office does on the ‘commissioning’ side.

“We have helped support some vital projects and services across the county that provide a real lifeline for some of our most vulnerable residents.

‘Just fantastic’

“They really do make a huge difference to a wide range of people in Surrey whether that be tackling anti-social behaviour in one of our communities or supporting a victim of domestic abuse in refuge who has nowhere else to turn.

“To secure nearly £9m in funding over the last two years is just fantastic and I am so proud of the hard work of my team – much of which happens behind the scenes.

“It is going to be an exciting but challenging next year ahead for policing in Surrey, but I am delighted to welcome the new Chief Constable who will take over a Force which is now the biggest it has ever been after the recruitment target was exceeded.

“I really hope that once these new officers are trained and serving our communities that our residents will see reap the benefits for years to come.

“As always, I look forward to speaking with members of the public and continuing to hear their views on policing so that we can continue to improve our service for the people of Surrey.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and police officers at a Surrey Police attestation event

“Brilliant news for residents” – Commissioner welcomes announcement that Surrey Police is the biggest it has ever been

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

The Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend has hailed today’s announcement that Surrey Police has added 395 extra officers to its ranks since 2019 – making the Force the biggest it’s ever been.

It was confirmed that the Force has exceeded its target under the government’s three year Operation Uplift programme to recruit 20,000 officers across the country, which ended last month.

Home Office figures show that since April 2019 when the programme started, the Force has recruited an extra 395 officers through a combination of Uplift funding and council tax contributions from the Surrey public. This is 136 more than the 259 target the government had set.

This has swelled the total Force number to 2,325 – making it the biggest it has ever been.

Since 2019, Surrey Police has had a total of 44 different intakes of recruits. Around 10 per cent of these new officers are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds while over 46 per cent were female.

The Commissioner said Surrey Police had done an amazing job recruiting the extra numbers in a tough job market following an extensive recruitment campaign run by the Force.

She said: “It has taken a mammoth effort from a whole range of teams within the Force to get to this point today, and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so incredibly hard over the last three years to achieve this target.

‘More officers than ever before’

“We now have more officers in the Surrey Police ranks than ever before and that is fantastic news for residents. 

“I was really pleased to see the Force have also managed to significantly increase the number of female officers and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

“I believe this will help give the Force an even more diverse workforce and be more representative of the communities they serve in Surrey.

“I had the pleasure of attending the last attestation ceremony at the end of March where 91 of those new recruits pledged to serve the King before going off to complete their training courses.

Huge achievement

“Whilst it has been fantastic to reach this milestone – there is still plenty of hard work to be done. The retention of officers and staff is one of the biggest issues policing is dealing with across the country and this will continue to be a challenge for the Force over the coming months.

“Surrey residents have told me loud and clear they are keen to see more officers on their streets, taking the fight to criminals and tackling those issues important to them where they live.

“So this is really great news today and my office will give all the support we can to our new Chief Constable Tim De Meyer so that we can get these new recruits fully trained and serving our communities as quickly as possible.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

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

Posted on | by Alex Winter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to disable the alert

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

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

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

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

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend with a female PCSO

Commissioner joins PCSO on foot patrol in Guildford – and urges others to join Surrey Police

Posted on | by Alex Winter

COMMISSIONER Lisa Townsend joined a Surrey Police Community Support Office (PCSO) on a foot patrol in Guildford last week – and urged anyone with an interest in the job to apply to the Force.

On a two-hour walk through the town centre, Lisa and PCSO Chris Moyes spoke with members of the public, visited areas known for anti-social behaviour, and were called to a department store following reports of a shoplifter.

PCSOs work alongside police and share some of their powers. While they are unable to make an arrest, they can issue fixed penalty notices, demand the name and address of anyone behaving anti-socially, and take alcohol from a person aged under 18.

In Surrey, individual PCSOs are well-known for their work in the communities they patrol, and act as a visible presence to deter crime and build relationships between residents and police.

Applications to become a PCSO with Surrey Police are currently being accepted.

Lisa said: “Our PCSOs are absolutely vital, and I had a chance to see exactly how much good they do in Surrey during my patrol with Chris.

“During my brief visit, she was stopped by a number of people who knew her. While some had a concern to discuss, many simply wanted to say hello. This is a testament to her 21 years of service with the Force.

‘Absolutely vital’

“Two of the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan are to protect communities from harm and work with our residents so they feel safe. PCSOs often provide that link between frontline policing and the people who live in our county.

“It’s a job like no other, and that’s what I’d urge anyone with an interest to apply. PCSOs make a huge difference to the lives of Surrey residents.”

PCSO Moyes said: “Being a PCSO is a brilliant job.

“I particularly enjoy the variety and speaking to so many different people of all ages and backgrounds.

“There’s nothing like putting a smile on a victim’s face by supporting and solving problems for them.”

Vacancies are currently available in Spelthorne, Elmbridge, Guildford, Surrey Heath, Woking and Waverley.

PCSOs work alongside Safer Neighbourhood Teams to prevent and tackle issues by building relationships and winning the trust of the public.

For more information, visit surrey.police.uk/police-forces/surrey-police/areas/careers/careers/pcso/