Category: Working with communities to feel safe

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend

Car park flagged as concern by residents wins award after funding is secured by Commissioner

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A car park highlighted by Surrey residents as an area of concern has received a national award following extensive renovations.

Drewitts Court car park in Walton-on-Thames benefited from a tranche of Home Office Safer Streets Funding, secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and partners including Elmbridge Borough Council.

An extensive programme of renovations was carried out with the grant, and the site has now secured a Safer Parking Award.

The award is a national standard for UK car parks that have implemented measures to ensure the safety of both vehicles and their owners.

Safer Streets success

Managed by the British Parking Association (BPA) on behalf of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd, the scheme aims to reduce crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities.

To receive the award, car parks must undergo a rigorous risk assessment conducted by the police. This assessment ensures that the car park has appropriate measures in place, such as effective surveillance, good lighting, and a clean environment, all of which are known to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.

The award signifies that a car park is a safer environment for users, providing peace of mind for those parking their vehicles there.

Car park improvements

The enhancements include:

  • Upgraded lighting for better visibility
  • New directional arrows to improve traffic flow
  • Reviewed and improved speed humps
  • A refurbished stairwell with a fresh coat of paint, new mirrors, and the application of urine repellent and anti-graffiti paints
  • Temporary deployment of CCTV to enhance security

Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said: “It’s been wonderful to see how the team in Elmbridge have used Safer Streets funding to invest in the safety and health of communities in the borough.

“Residents had told police and councillors of their concerns around the Drewitts Court car park, and the improvements made demonstrate the real impact that properly directed funding can have. 

“I’m delighted that the efforts of the team have been recognised with a Safer Parking Award.”

Councillor Kirsty Hewens, Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Parking and Local Economy, said: “Keeping residents safe and enhancing the feeling of safety is a key priority for the Elmbridge Community and Safety Partnership.

“We want people to feel safe visiting our high street car parks at all times of day.”

Funding boost

Walton was one of three Surrey towns to be allocated a combined total of almost £1million last year as part of the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund. Redhill and Guildford also benefited from the grant.

In Walton, the funding is being used to tackle anti-social behaviour in public spaces after drugs, vandalism and littering were identified as particular concerns for residents.

Additional CCTV has been installed in the town, and a targeted youth outreach programme is under way.

The fund has also paid for improvements to the community garden at St Johns Drive in Walton, which now features new flowerbeds, vegetable patches and a bug hotel to encourage wildlife and support biodiversity in the area.

Have your say on the policing priorities for Surrey for the next three years

Posted on | by Nathan Rees

What would you like to see Surrey Police focus on in your local community over the next three years?

That is the question Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend is asking the county’s residents as she launches a public consultation today which will help shape her new Police and Crime Plan.

Those who live and work in Surrey are being invited to have their say on what they think the policing priorities should be by filling in a brief survey.

It only takes a few minutes to complete and can be filled in here:

Surrey Police and Crime Plan 2025-28 public consultation

The survey will remain open until December 12 2024.

Have your say

The answers will help the Commissioner complete her Plan, which will be a blueprint for policing in Surrey for the next three years and provides the basis for how she holds the Chief Constable to account.

It will be published in early 2025 and will cover her current term of office, which runs until 2028.

The development of the Plan is already underway, with the Commissioner’s office holding a series of in-depth consultation events over the last two months.

This has included speaking to a number of key groups in Surrey such as victim and survivor groups, young people, professionals in crime reduction and safety, rural crime groups and representatives from Surrey’s business community.

The Commissioner now wants to seek the views of the wider Surrey public on what they want to see in the Plan.

Policing priorities

Lisa was re-elected for a second term of office in May this year. She was first elected in 2021 when she set her original Police and Crime Plan.

She said: “The single most important part of my role as Police and Crime Commissioner for this county is to represent you, the residents of Surrey.

“It is my job to ensure your views on policing in Surrey are heard and that is why I now ask for your help in creating my new Police and Crime Plan. 

“I want to make sure the public’s priorities for policing are my priorities too. This is why I want as many people as possible to fill out the survey and let me know your views.

“Over the last four years, I have spoken with thousands of residents across our county and I know there are issues that consistently cause concern such as road safety, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, drug crime, the safety of women and girls and visible policing in our communities.

‘The public’s priorities are my priorities’

“When I was re-elected in May, I pledged to focus on a ‘back-to-basics’ approach to policing in Surrey which focuses on tackling those crimes that blight our communities and targeting persistent offenders. 

“This is a commitment I share with our Chief Constable Tim De Meyer, and I believe this approach is already starting to pay dividends.

“However, the road ahead is not easy and there are challenges that Surrey Police must face in the coming years.

“There are significant financial savings that must be made, an ever-increasing demand on our policing teams and retaining our officers and staff in a tough job market.

Back to basics

“It is crucial that our resources are targeted where they are most needed, and Surrey Police finds the right balance between visible community policing and the need to combat that hidden criminality happening behind closed doors.

“I want my Police and Crime Plan to reflect a wide a range of views from people in every borough in Surrey on those issues that are important to them where they live.

“With that in mind, I ask you all to fill out my survey and let me know what you want to see in my plan. The consultation only takes just a few minutes so please do fill it in and let me know what you think.”

Lisa will be promoting the survey at the Policing Your Community roadshow, which is taking place around the county this autumn and winter. Sign up for your local event here.

Poll of 1,500 young people reveals the crime and policing issues that matter most to Surrey’s youth

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Surrey’s young people have spoken on the crime and policing priorities that impact them most as part of a forum funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Safety at night-time, healthy relationships, sexual exploitation, trust in the police and anti-social behaviour are among the key issues for young people living in the county, a poll of around 1,500 people has revealed.

The results were revealed by members of the Surrey Youth Commission at a wide-ranging forum held in Woking in September.

Attendees at the Big Conversation Conference included officers from both Surrey Police and British Transport Police, Surrey’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, and representatives from a range of key agencies including local authorities and charities.

Both Ellie and Lisa Townsend, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, chose to fund the Youth Commission in order to help put youth voice at the heart of policing in the county.

Applications to join the third year of the Youth Commission, which is organised and administered by Leaders Unlocked, are now being accepted.

For more information, visit surrey-pcc.gov.uk/funding/surrey-youth-commission

The closing date for applications is November 22.

Ellie, who opened and closed the Big Conversation Conference, said: “Our brilliant Youth Commission members have provided us all an invaluable snapshot into the thoughts and feelings of young people in Surrey.

“Their priorities help us to better understand issues that matter most to them and their peers, from age groups who I know often feel as if their opinions go unheard.

“I want to thank every single Youth Commissioner, as well as everyone who shared their thoughts and priorities.

“They should be incredibly proud of the work they have achieved with their carefully-considered recommendations for policing, for our office, and for all of us working to support children and young people. I am certainly proud of them.

Young people share their priorities for police

“We will soon open applications once again, and I encourage young people who want to help shape the future of policing in Surrey to get in touch.” 

Kaytea Budd-Brophy, Senior Manager at Leaders Unlocked, said: “I am hugely proud of the Surrey Youth Commission members, who have been an amazing group of young people to work with.

“The members have worked tirelessly at the peer-to-peer engagement, reaching out to larger number of young people through the Big Conversation to explore the root causes and tangible solutions to the issues that young people in Surrey tell us they face.“

“We are absolutely delighted and excited to be starting to working with the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Ellie Vesey-Thompson, for a third year.”

A report on the latest recommendations from the Youth Commission will be available during the winter.

Members of the Surrey Youth Commission are pictured with Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, in red

“It’s the job where no two hours are the same – and it’s a role like no other for those who love Surrey”

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has celebrated a job where “no two hours are the same” – and urged others to apply for the role.

Lisa Townsend visited Godalming during the summer to join Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Nick Boxall on patrol in the town.

PCSOs are among the most visible roles in Surrey Police, and the intelligence they gather allows the Force to build a picture of where the county’s crime hotspots lie.

Their work also helps to identify and protect Surrey’s most vulnerable residents.

The Force launched a recruitment drive for additional PCSOs earlier this year, and has now filled all roles for the September cohort.

It comes after Operation Uplift, the previous government’s drive to recruit an additional 20,000 officers across the UK, resulted in more than 50 Surrey PCSOs leaving their roles to become PCs.

The additional officers hired in Surrey have made the Force the biggest it has been in a generation.

Lisa said: “Being a PCSO is a diverse, lively and often challenging role where no two hours are the same.

“You might find our community support officers guarding a cordon after a major incident, finding a way to calm down an angry member of the public who is threatening harm, or supporting a vulnerable resident who is struggling with their mental health – sometimes all within a single shift.

“They provide a bridge between members of the public and the police who serve them, and the connections they build with residents help to safeguard the county from crime and protect the most vulnerable.

“PCSOs are so important to our residents”

“Over the course of my tenure as your Commissioner, I have spoken with thousands of Surrey residents, and I know how important PCSOs are to our communities.

“It is wonderful news that so many of our PCSOs became police officers during Operation Uplift – it’s a fantastic achievement, both for the Force and for the officers themselves.

“The changes did leave Surrey Police with vacancies to fill however, and I know that has been a real challenge for the Force who have been working hard to get our PCSO numbers back up to full strength.

“So I’m delighted that the latest PCSO course was full and those new recruits will be working in our communities across Surrey from September.

“But we still need more in our ranks so I’d encourage anyone with an interest to have a look on our recruitment pages – this is a job like no other for those who love Surrey.”

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

Lisa joined PCSO Nick Boxall on a foot patrol in Godalming

Commissioner Lisa Townsend standing in a pink top and smart trousers outside in front of a white sign that says Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey

Walton blooms as Safer Streets grant funds improvements to community garden, CCTV and car park

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

Walton-on-Thames is in bloom this summer – thanks to funding secured by Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner and key partners to make Surrey’s streets feel safer for all.

Commissioner Lisa Townsend has officially reopened the Walton Community Garden in the St John Estate after the town benefited from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.

Walton, Redhill and Guildford last year secured just under £1million in total through the fund, which was secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Elmbridge Borough Council and other key partners.

In Walton town centre and Walton North, the funding is being used to tackle anti-social behaviour in public spaces after drugs, vandalism and littering were identified as particular concerns for residents. Additional CCTV has been installed in the town, and a targeted youth outreach programme is under way.

In bloom

The fund has also paid for improvements to the community garden, which now features new flowerbeds, vegetable patches and a bug hotel to encourage wildlife and support biodiversity in the area.

Lisa said: “It was a real joy to join the celebrations at the community garden.

“The work that has been carried out in Walton-on-Thames so far is a fantastic example of the difference properly-directed funding can make to our communities.”

Councillor Kirsty Hewens, portfolio holder for enterprise, parking and local economy on Elmbridge Borough Council, said: “It has been wonderful to be part of the re-opening celebration today and to meet residents that will enjoy this garden.

“A real joy”

“It is important for the local community to have a safe and peaceful space to meet, and this garden will provide that space.” 

The Commissioner took part in a series of activities on the day, including pebble painting and bracelet making.

St John residents also played tennis and enjoyed complimentary pizza from The Dough Shack. 

Representatives from Crimestoppers, Citizens’ Advice, Surrey Police and Surrey Fire and Rescue also attended, with firefighters giving tours of their fire engine to visitors of all ages.

The community garden will remain open for all residents to pot, water, and grow plants, enabling new skills and providing a safe, secluded space to meet.

Police crack down on anti-social behaviour in Guildford thanks to funding secured through Commissioner’s office

Posted on | by Surrey PCC

A crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Guildford is under way thanks to funding secured by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and partners.

The town was one of three Surrey areas awarded a combined total of almost £1million last year as part of the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.

Guildford was granted £273,000 to combat anti-social behaviour, or ASB, which can include everything from harassment and rowdy, inconsiderate behaviour to noise nuisance and criminal damage.

Surrey Police, working closely with key stakeholders including Guildford Borough Council and Experience Guildford, are now working to drive down reports in the town centre.

A recent survey of residents revealed that incidents are most likely to occur at weekends between 12noon and 8pm.

Police crackdown

To tackle the problem, Guildford’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, Guildford Borough Council, and Experience Guildford joined forces with Lisa’s team to secure Safer Streets funding.

The scheme targets specific crime issues in communities around the country with the aim of reducing offending.

Redhill and Walton-upon-Thames were also both awarded funds through Safer Streets.

Guildford’s tranche of funding has been used to pay for street marshals, who patrol ASB hotspots around the town centre at weekends during the peak times of offending.

It has also been used to bolster youth engagement.

Safer Streets success

In addition, there has been an increase in officer visibility within the town centre, with more patrols taking place during peak times.

Partners have also been working closely with businesses in the town, many of which are funding and implementing their own measures to support the project and tackle ASB.

A multi-agency operation which also involves British Transport Police, The Friary and other local businesses has already kick-started within the town on certain Sundays in a bid to identify and prevent the causes of ASB.

In addition, newly-designed digital posters are being displayed around Guildford, including at the train station, at bus stops and aboard buses, and a social media campaign aimed at young people and their parents has launched. The campaign warns that ASB is not welcome anywhere in the town.

Guildford Borough Commander Blaine Rafferty said: “We’ve been working closely with local partners to introduce these new measures to help tackle antisocial behaviour in Guildford.

“It’s a priority”

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy our town centre and feel safe. This funding has allowed us to put our focus on ASB hotspots in town, and areas where the wider community has raised concerns. 

“ASB is a priority for us. We have plain-clothed officers supporting uniformed colleagues in Guildford identifying any nuisance, inconsiderate behaviour or criminal activity. 

“They will be operating in the town centre on a regular basis to help Guildford be a safe environment for all.” 

Lisa said: “I’m really pleased that our Office has played a key part in securing the funding for this project in Guildford that will address the concerns of local residents around issues including theft, criminal damage and substance misuse in their town centre.  

“As well as preventing crime, I am proud that the work with local partners will also boost the engagement with children and young people that is a core part of keeping our communities safe for everyone.” 

Commissioner’s pride

Lead councillor for regulatory services, Councillor Merel Rehorst-Smith, said: “I’m delighted with the summer campaign targeting antisocial behaviour.

“It’s so important that we all respect one another and collectively stand up and say ‘no’ to behaviour that is unacceptable in our town.  

“By working together, we can all help make sure our town continues to be a great place to live, work and do business.  A town to be proud of, where everyone feels welcome, can be authentic and feel valued.” 

Pete Lambert, town safety and venue liaison manager at Experience Guildford said: “We fully endorse this campaign to help reduce ASB in Guildford town centre through strong partnership working with Surrey Police, Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner and Guildford Borough Council.” 

Commissioner joins local officers preventing anti-social behaviour and crime in Surrey Heath

Posted on | by James Smith

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend joined officers across Surrey Heath as they carried out coordinated operations to help stamp out anti-social behaviour and crime across the borough.

At the end of July, the Commissioner took part in targeted patrols aimed at reducing crime in the areas that had received the most reports of crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB), followed by a visit to ‘pop-up’ club that gave children and young people a place to be in the evening with support from local officers and specialist youth workers.

Together with Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey Police teams carried out patrols to prevent illegal fishing and anti-social driving, speeding enforcement and test purchasing using young people to deter the sale of vapes and knives to people who are underage.

Visits to local retailers took place to discuss their concerns and licensing checks were carried out with local taxi firms.

While all of the activities are carried out by Surrey Police and partners on a regular basis – the day coordinated these actions to help boost visible policing, engage with residents and build on the joint intelligence that helps to identify longer term solutions to the problems that are reported by local people and businesses.

It comes after the Force carried out an extra 900 patrols, arresting 34 people as part of a boost to police funding that was secured by the Commissioner’s team earlier this year.

That funding is now paying for an increase in the hotspot patrols that are being carried out by Surrey Police officers and partners, starting in 15 areas across the county.

In the last four years, an additional £2m funding from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund has also been used to deliver bespoke community safety improvements by local police teams and the local councils in eight of Surrey’s boroughs.

Surrey remains one of the safest counties in England and Wales and these operations are focused on stopping ASB and crime from growing.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said, “I was delighted to join the coordinated actions by officers that are directly addressing those concerns that you have told me are important to you in the Surrey Heath area.

“During the day, I witnessed the hard work of local teams and our partners at Surrey Heath Borough Council that are acting visibly to deter anti-social behaviour and crimes such as shoplifting that are often linked to a bigger picture of organised crime in our communities.

“That work is vital and it was accompanied by a range of less visible actions that are just as important to keeping our communities safe; such as working with retailers to report crime and prevent underage sales, ensuring visitors and residents are kept safe at night and investing in the relationship between our officers and children and young people.”

Residents are urged to report crime at surrey.police.uk, by calling 101 or sending a direct message on official Surrey Police social media channels. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Anyone who witnesses or is concerned about anti-social behaviour can find out how to report it at healthysurrey.org.uk/community-safety/asb

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa standing by supermarket trolleys

Commissioner dispels shoplifting “myth” – and says the offence is a top priority for police in Surrey

Posted on | by Alex Winter

SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has moved to “myth-bust” claims that police won’t investigate lower-value shoplifting incidents – after joining an undercover sting at an East Surrey supermarket.

Lisa Townsend said “persistent rumours” that police will fail to respond to incidents where the total value of items stolen is less than £200 are “categorically untrue”.

The Commissioner joined a recent plain-clothes operation to tackle shoplifting at Sainsbury’s in Redhill. During the initiative, a suspected offender was detained after allegedly stealing items worth just £7.50.

While Surrey has some of the lowest levels of shoplifting in the country, reports rose by 26 per cent between December 2022 and 2023. The figure is reflective of national trends.

Myth-busting

The Force uses uniformed patrols in hotspots, plain-clothes operations and public engagement to tackle shoplifting.

Their approach has resulted in a number of recent successes.

Within recent months, the work of a single officer who was initially tasked with investigating shoplifting at a branch of Tesco in Guildford uncovered an alleged two years of offending by a gang based in Essex. Six people have now been charged with a total of 86 offences for conspiracy to commit theft from a shop.

Lisa was quizzed on Surrey Police’s response to the offence during a meeting with Dorking’s Business Improvement District.

The Commissioner said: “For many years now, there has been a persistent rumour that police will only investigate reports of shoplifting where the value exceeds £200.

“This is categorically untrue, and it’s time to myth-bust this particular story.

“It is true that police may not visit a business immediately, depending on the threat or risk or harm reported.

“However, the Chief Constable has been clear that ultimately, he wants to see all reports investigated, whether the loss is £5 or £5,000.

“I recently watched as a suspected shoplifter was arrested on suspicion of stealing items worth just £7.50.

‘We take it very seriously’

“Reports of shoplifting are rising throughout the UK.

We know that much of this increase is fuelled by organised gangs who are stealing to order, targeting higher-value items to sell on to members of the public struggling with the cost of living.

“Shoplifting also often goes hand-in-hand with violence, threats and abuse directed at retail staff.

“It’s crucial that Surrey Police, as well as every other force in the country, treats these offences with the seriousness they deserve.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend and Deputy PCC Ellie Vesey-Thompson with Keely Glithero and Sue Murphy from Catalyst Support

Great-gran, 93, and woman forced to sleep on kitchen floor are among “hidden” Surrey victims of cuckooing

Posted on | by Alex Winter

A WOMAN forced to sleep on the kitchen floor of her own home and a 93-year-old great-grandmother are among the “hidden” Surrey victims of a little-known form of exploitation, Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said.

Cuckooing involves criminals taking over the homes of vulnerable people to use for offences including sex work and county lines drug dealing.

Lisa partly funds Surrey’s gold-standard Cuckooing Service, run by Catalyst Support, contributing £54,000 from her Community Safety Fund in the past financial year.

The service supports victims, provides advice to those at risk and helps prevent the risk of a property being closed by the courts.

Great-gran cuckooed

Since it launched in 2018, it has received 518 referrals from across the county. Of the vulnerable people supported, 14 per cent lived in accommodation that they either privately rented or owned, seven per cent were aged 70 or above, and 15 per cent had no history of drug or alcohol misuse.

One victim, who lost the use of her own bedroom and was forced to sleep in her kitchen, begged police officers for help after a chance sighting in the street. Another returned home to find a drug production line in their property, while a third victim’s contact details were sold to an inmate in prison as part-payment for synthetic cannabis Spice.

Lisa said: “Cuckooing is a deeply disturbing form of exploitation that can affect people of all backgrounds.

“However, victims are usually vulnerable in some way, with single mums, victims of domestic abuse, those with a history of substance misuse, sex workers and young people who have experienced the care system all among those most likely to be cuckooed.

“Criminals take advantage of this vulnerability in the cruellest possible way, by turning safe refuges into prisons.

Victim’s details sold in prison

“The harm caused to these victims is devastating, although cuckooing can impact entire communities. In fact, police often become aware of cuckooing when neighbours call in severe anti-social behaviour.

“Troublingly, most victims of cuckooing will remain hidden, both from police and from agencies poised to help them out of danger, like Catalyst Support’s fantastic Cuckooing Service.

“But if you’re in this terrible situation, there are ways out. In the past year, Catalyst Support has disrupted 15 organised criminal groups, known as OCGs, and 34 local drug dealers.

“They are changing lives, and I urge anyone in need of their support in Surrey to get in touch.

Commissioner’s pride

“This is a gold-standard, nationally –recognised service, and I’m incredibly proud to fund it.”

Cuckooing service manager at Catalyst Support, Keely Glithero, said: “Cuckooing becoming a crime is key for victims, so that this abhorrent act is recognised.

“To the perpetrators, it sends the message that this is not acceptable and to the victims, that they are being seen.

“Our service provides empowering, trustful support, improving community safety and the resilience of adults at risk. We also work with perpetrators.”

For more information, visit catalystsupport.org.uk, call 01483 590150, or text 07909 631623.

Lisa Townsend, in yellow, and her Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, on right, visited the Cuckooing Service to learn more about the impact on victims

Ellie Vesey-Thompson reappointed as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for another term

Posted on | by Alex Winter

Ellie Vesey-Thompson has been formally reappointed as the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Ellie is committed to continuing her work giving young people a voice in policing, putting a renewed focus on policing issues in rural communities, and listening to the views of officers and staff.

Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend appointed Ellie as her deputy following her first election win in 2021. Ellie will now continue in her role after Lisa was successfully re-elected last month for the next PCC term, which ends in 2028.

Ellie attended a confirmation hearing with Surrey’s Police and Crime Panel on Thursday last week. Members recommended her reappointment.

She has a background in policy, communications and youth engagement, and holds both a degree in Politics and a Graduate Diploma in Law.

Deputy reappointed

“It’s been a huge privilege to serve as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for the past three years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue in role. I am really proud of what we have already achieved since I was first appointed in 2021,” Ellie said.

“We have supported a broad range of organisations and services across Surrey with millions of pounds of funding, including through the dedicated Children and Young People’s Fund introduced by the Commissioner and I.

“This has supported a variety of projects and initiatives, including our innovative teacher training programme to help tackle violence against women and girls from a young age, Safer Streets projects to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in many communities across our county, and projects aimed at diverting young people away from crime and exploitation.

Years of success

“Tackling rural crime, empowering young people, supporting veterans, and listening to frontline officers and staff are the four main pillars of my role in Surrey.

“I was delighted to launch Surrey’s first-ever Youth Commission, which allows young people to have a say on policing in the county. The Youth Commission are now in their second year, and I continue to oversee their work and look forward to hearing their latest set of recommendations in the autumn.

“Engaging with our farmers and other members of our rural communities is incredibly important to me, to help build confidence in policing and encourage better reporting of rural crime.

“Over the last three years, I have met and spent time with many Surrey Police officers and members of staff across a range of different policing teams.

“I will continue to be an advocate”

“I have seen at close quarters the dedication and hard work that goes into keeping our county safe.

“I will continue to be an advocate for the fantastic policing service they provide.”

Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “Ellie has played a key part in helping me represent the views of the public in how police our county and I am delighted to welcome her formally back to the role of Deputy.

“When I was elected in May, I pledged to focus on my policing priorities on what our residents want to see – our officers doing the job only they can, investigating and solving crime and taking offenders off our streets.

“I believe Ellie is the right person to help me deliver on that promise and we are already working together on drawing up my new Police and Crime Plan for the county.”